Many products, no wires

The Bluetooth wireless protocol is helping consumers to bring their personal electronics along for the ride.

The explosion of portable digital entertainment technologies and the growing amount of time spent commuting are sparking major changes in automotive infotainment systems. Drivers and passengers want the ability to carry cell phones, MP3 players, and even DVDs into the vehicle, linking them in with a minimum of hassle.

Letting consumers bring these devices into their cars poses myriad challenges for both vendors and carmakers. Cars last a decade, but cell phones and other consumer products have short lifetimes, and there's always the possibility that a new technology could take hold in the same way that iPods and other MP3 players burst onto the scene. Providing connections for all of them is no easy task.