  Sixteen years of observations of black hole transients with the Rossi X-ray
Timing Explorer, complemented by other X-ray observatories and ground-based
optical/infrared/radio telescopes have given us a clear view of the complex
phenomenology associated with their bright outbursts. This has led to the
definition of a small number of spectral/timing states which are separated by
marked transitions in observables. The association of these states and their
transitions to changes in the radio emission from relativistic radio jets
completes the picture and have led to the study of the connection between
accretion and ejection. A good number of fundamental questions are still
unanswered, but the existing picture provides a good framework on which to base
theoretical studies. We discuss the current observational standpoint, with
emphasis onto the spectral and timing evolution during outbursts, as well as
the prospects for future missions such as ASTROSAT (2012) and LOFT (>2020 if
selected).
