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Wireless developers are bringing together the two technologies and may finally spur Bluetooth growth.

The short-range wireless technology called Bluetooth, commonly used to connect wireless headets to cellular phones, has had an image of being a solution in need of a problem.

But a new initiative to integrate Bluetooth with Ultra-Wideband technology may revive Bluetooth's potential and finally fulfill years of hype.

Bluetooth transmits at about 1 megabit per second, with a planned upgrade to 3mbps. UWB blasts past that with speeds of 100mbps and up.

A successful implementation of the two technologies could mean an end to the countless wires users need to connect computers, peripherals, and media devices like personal video recorders.

Discussions between Bluetooth's managing interest, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group backed by Nokia, Motorola, and Intel, and the WiMedia Alliance and UWB Forum, have just started.

Recently, Microsoft joined the WiMedia Alliance, a big boost to its efforts at developing a version of UWB.

One major concern to be addressed by an integration of the two technologies will be to ensure buyers of Bluetooth-enabled items today would be able to work with whatever UWB products come to market in the future.

David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business. Email him here.