Samsung's IMT2000, touted as the world's first web video phone

But Bluetooth is being added to so many technologies that consumers may find it hard to choose the best combination.

Land and air

The majority of the 28 million people in the UK with a mobile phone still use a landline as well because calls made over the fixed network cost less.

Many also use their fixed line to surf the internet because currently data travels faster over wires.

Data sent over mobile phone networks travels at a rate of 9.6 kilobits per second (kbps) far slower than the 56 kbps possible with a modem.

But future mobile technologies will go much faster than this.

BT Cellnet is introducing a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) for business customers this month which shuffles data around at speeds up to 171.2 kbps.

Third generation

By 2003 the next generation of mobile phone networks, called the Universal Mobile Telecommunication Service (UMTS), should be in operation. This moves data around at up to 2,000 kbps.

A UMTS mobile phone that also works with Bluetooth could be the link between your PC and the internet, removing any need for a fixed line.

The Bluetooth handset should also be able to manage the move from home to mobile networks, so you can start a call before walking out the door and finish it at the bus stop.

But at the same time that these mobile networks are being deployed very high speed fixed services are becoming available.

Broadband access

This month Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) services are due to start in the UK that let people surf at speeds up to 500 kbps.

The DSL modems could become the hub of a Bluetooth network that links together all the gadgets in the home.

Toshiba is already making an ordinary modem with Bluetooth, that gives laptops and other computers access to the telephone network.

Makers of hand-held computers such as Palm and Compaq are producing sleeves and backpacks for the gadgets complete with Bluetooth antenna.

Consumer electronics companies such as Philips are not far behind, putting Bluetooth into hi-fi systems, videos and eventually fridges.