Intel Demonstrates New Bluetooth Hardware and Software Technology for the First Time - Company Business and Marketing

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Dec 13, 1999

Intel Corporation Tuesday conducted the first public technology demonstration of its future hardware and software products based on Bluetooth wireless technology.

These products will enable computer manufacturers to add new wireless communications capabilities to portable computers and other PC products to be introduced around mid-2000. The demonstration showed two notebook development systems synchronizing data wirelessly using Intel's Bluetooth radio module and software suite.

"Intel's goal is to help users benefit from the ease-of-use and interoperability of Bluetooth devices," said Frank Spindler, vice president and marketing director of Intel's Mobile and Handheld Products Group. "We will provide our customers with hardware, software, design tools and support to allow them to deliver these benefits in notebook designs."

Software Suite Features The Intel software suite will provide all necessary components to implement Bluetooth technology on a PC. The suite will consist of driver software, control software, and support for application interfaces. For example, using the software suite, today's synchronization software applications, which run over wires, will operate wirelessly without modification.

Bluetooth: Building a World Without Wires

Bluetooth is a radio technology specification designed to transmit both voice and data wirelessly, providing an easier way for a variety of mobile computing, communications and other devices to communicate with one another without the need for cables. For instance, users will be able to send and receive e-mail on notebook computers wirelessly using the digital cellular phones in their pocket, or synchronize PCs with handheld electronic organizers without taking them out of their briefcase.

Bluetooth technology is expected to help redefine the personal communications market by expanding the capabilities of these devices. According to market research firm Cahners In-Stat Group, there will be over 670 million Bluetooth enabled devices worldwide by 2005.

Intel is one of the nine companies leading the 1,300-member Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), which was formed in May 1998. For more information, visit www.bluetooth.com. The Bluetooth Developers Conference took place at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles from Dec. 7-9. The conference is an educational forum that provides developers with information about how to apply Bluetooth technology in numerous industries, including computing, communications, automotive, consumer electronics and general business. Attendees include software developers, network vendors, semiconductor vendors, product manufacturers and technical professionals from a wide range of industries.