Microsoft chews up Bluetooth

NEWS

Microsoft is set to release a Windows XP update that adds support for Bluetooth, the much-hyped technology for wirelessly connecting peripherals. The update is included with a new Bluetooth keyboard-mouse combination from Microsoft, scheduled to hit stores by early November. The package, unveiled on Tuesday, will cost $159 (£101). The company will also offer a separate Bluetooth-enabled optical mouse for $89. The Bluetooth update for XP should be available soon for separate download from Microsoft's Web site as well. Analysts, though, said the Redmond, Washington-based computing giant's first Bluetooth implementation ignores one of the most important ways in which the technology can be used. They also said the company is playing catch-up with Apple Computer, which already offers Bluetooth in Mac OS X. Bluetooth lets computers connect to peripherals, handhelds, cell phones and other portable devices without the use of cables. It differs from 802.11b, or "Wi-Fi", which is a wireless technology for linking PCs into a network, although Bluetooth can be used for this purpose as well. Market researcher IDC expects Bluetooth adoption to take off in 2003, with the market for Bluetooth components, such as chips and memory, reaching $2.6bn in 2006. The market hit $76.6m last year. Analysts said Microsoft trails Apple, which added the technology to Mac OS X in August after beginning to offer Bluetooth support as a separate update in March. Still, Mac users have few uses for Bluetooth, particularly because Apple delayed releasing one of the most important pieces of software supporting the technology. Apple in September released a beta, or testing, version of iSync, software that would let consumers synchronise data with Palm handhelds and Bluetooth-enabled phones. The Cupertino, California-based company had expected to release the final version of iSync in September but didn't deliver. Microsoft in late September released its Bluetooth update to manufacturers, with the expectation that Bluetooth support would appear on new PCs anywhere from three to six months later. In a Tuesday press release touting its new Bluetooth peripherals, Microsoft positioned its support of the technology as a first. "Microsoft has made some claims about being first, and they are first in a very narrow sense -- as in the Bluetooth mouse and keyboard combo," said IDC Roger Kay. But "there is a Logitech pointer mouse, so there are other products out there". Logitech's Presenter mouse, a $199 Bluetooth peripheral, works with Windows 98, Me, 2000 and XP. Microsoft's peripherals only work with the newest version of Windows. Although the company is adding Bluetooth to Windows XP, it is not expected to offer such updates for its older consumer operating systems. "It's always an issue when you come out with something doesn't really have universal connectivity, especially for a very basic kind of product," NPDTechworld analyst Stephen Baker said of Microsoft's Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. The oversight could be problematic for businesses using Windows 2000 that might want to take advantage of Microsoft peripherals or use Bluetooth technology with other devices. Analysts also questioned Microsoft's limited selection of Bluetooth "profiles", which enable support for various devices and uses. The Bluetooth transceiver supplied with Microsoft's peripherals, for example, offers a small number of computer-to-device connection profiles, allowing for the use of keyboards, mice, printers or cell phones, among others. At least in this first iteration of Bluetooth technology, Microsoft chose not to support what analysts expect to be one of the most important connection profiles, that allowing for the creation of a personal area network (PAN). Using PAN, devices can create a network based on Internet protocol (IP), which lets machines linked in a network identify one another. "With PAN support the devices can address each other and don't necessarily have to go through the PC," IDC's Kay said. For instance, a digital camera could transmit images directly to a printer over Bluetooth without being processed through the PC. "Microsoft's long-term is strategy is routing everything through the PC (thus) making it more relevant," Kay said. "So they have a tendency not to support things that bypass the PC." Directions on Microsoft analyst Rob Helm said he found the software giant's position on PAN profile somewhat perplexing, "because Microsoft co-designed that one". The range of a PAN would be limited to about 30 feet, but could let consumers do more with Bluetooth devices beyond the PC. When Microsoft eventually does add PAN support, the company doesn't plan to support the more open Bluetooth sync protocol, but will instead run everything through its proprietary ActiveSync technology. "If they supported the Bluetooth sync protocol, that would be vendor independent," Helm said. "Why would they do that? They would rather lock people into their own sync protocols with ActiveSync." Microsoft did not respond to requests for additional information on its Bluetooth strategy. A company representative said PAN support would be coming out a later time.

Separate the hype from the reality at ZDNet UK's Bluetooth News Section. Have your say instantly, and see what others have said. Go to the ZDNet news forum. Let the editors know what you think in the Mailroom.

Post your comment

In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in.

You can also log in with Facebook. Log in or create your ZDNet UK account below

By signing up for this service, you indicate that you agree to our Terms and Conditions and have read and understood our Privacy Policy. Questions about membership? Find the answers in the Community FAQ

ZDNet UK Live

I totally dislike pirating of works, I fear that artists will be deterred from creating works if they think that they are going to get ripped off....

6 minutes ago by GHar123 on ACTA stumbles in Germany

How dare film makers, artists or anybody that invests in creativity stop us pirating their works for free. I want to be able to walk into my local...

6 hours ago by JCB33 on ACTA stumbles in Germany

@GrueMaster. I prefer horses for courses rather than one size fits all. I, and I suspect most other computer users, do not really wish to have...

8 hours ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

The product that scares me every time I have to use it is the Office 2007 version of Excel. The first bug that I found was applying the median...

8 hours ago by greycynic on Ten flawed products that derail productivity

Nice review and very informative. One thing I'd like to add (in reply to whs001's 1st question), the main reason to have the same interface from...

9 hours ago by GrueMaster on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

I'be been using Mint 12 since the RC came out, and I am far more happy with the Cinnamon, the Mate, and, yes (with extensions), theGnome 3...

10 hours ago by Frederick Wrigley via Facebook on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

Excellent article. One small correction, though--although a fresh installation of Linux Mint 12 will, indeed, provide the user with a version of...

11 hours ago by bdantas on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

In related news, the ISPs club together to get the members of the Home Affairs Select Committee (ya goofed on that part, ZDNet UK) copies of "The...

11 hours ago by Alan Ralph via Facebook on MPs urge ISPs to take down terrorist material

In related news, the ISPs club together to get the members of the Home Affairs Select Committee (ya goofed on that part, ZDNet UK) copies of "The...

11 hours ago by Alan Ralph via Facebook on MPs urge ISPs to take down terrorist material

For Gnome 2 die-hards, it is possible to add icons to the bottom panel (or top top panel, if you prefer) which provide the exact Gnome 2...

12 hours ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

Your comments would seem pretty naive and immature. Your 'solution' appears to be, "gee, let's all just give in to the hackers and give them...

12 hours ago by ramwellian on Cloud computing security: no more oxymoron?

"Interesting thought ... If you installed Win7 as a dual boot on a machine that previously only had Linux, and it wrecked your Linux installation,...

13 hours ago by BugStalker on Windows 7 Declares War on GRUB

This is an excellent summary of Ubuntu and Mint and the interface differences between them. Most such articles take a very partisan position for...

13 hours ago by whs001 on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

@ewallace. Not so clear. Anyone can obtain the text, for example from here http://www.ustr.gov/webfm_send/2379. I support ACTA so long as it and...

13 hours ago by Moley on ACTA: Facts, misconceptions and questions

I think WinRT is fantastic. I just wish it was an option for people that didn't want to go through Microsoft's App Store with its attendant...

16 hours ago by 45283 on Why Windows 8 needs architectural hygiene for WOA

Nine people? £30m? Who's back pocket is that lot going in? And IF they say it is for new buildings, what about all the ones the government has...

17 hours ago by Burn-IT on Police set to launch three £30m e-crime hubs

Just to be clear, nobody knows what is in the text of ACTA, here is a photograph of the text of ACTA http://twitpic.com/8h9iju as submitted to the...

17 hours ago by ewallace on ACTA: Facts, misconceptions and questions

Unfortunately main issue is that ASUS is refusing to accept that they make some mistake on this version of asus Transformer prime. 1 - GPS sensor...

19 hours ago by fgvrg56 on Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime Wi-Fi & GPS problems?

@Marcus A fair question. Just talked with Archos which said it was working on an announcement for next week....

20 hours ago by Ben Woods on Archos confirms G9 Ice Cream Sandwich update schedule

Any update on this, considering the claimed "first week of February"?

21 hours ago by Marcus Karlsson via Facebook on Archos confirms G9 Ice Cream Sandwich update schedule

Featured white papers

Latest jobs

Microsoft chews up Bluetooth

Daily Newsletters

Topics

Related stories

Belkin to unveil Christmas Bluetooth line

Apple bucks a falling PC trend in UK and France

Apple takes top PC spot from HP

Post your comment

ZDNet UK Live

Latest in Desktop Hardware

Apple bucks a falling PC trend in UK and France

Apple takes top PC spot from HP

Featured white papers

Latest jobs

Test Analyst - Business Intelligence /Data Warehousing

Test Analyst - Business Intelligence /Data Warehousing

Technical MI Manager - 50-60k - Leeds

Inside ZDNet UK

A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

2012 Predictions: VCE FastPath, VI SAN Probe & Hadoop

BlackBerry Bold 9790

Case study: How cloud enables growth

Ten factors that make Ubuntu 11.10 a hit

Toshiba Portégé Z830-10P Review

BT's archive: Pictures from the vault

News & Analysis

Reviews

Blogs

Resources

About Us

Member Services

Special Features

Advertising Features

ZDNet UK / News and Analysis / Workspace IT / Desktop Hardware

Microsoft chews up Bluetooth

Daily Newsletters

Topics

Related stories

Post your comment

Get ZDNet UK's daily newsletter

Enter your email address to sign up

ZDNet UK Live

Latest in Desktop Hardware

Featured white papers

Latest jobs

Inside ZDNet UK

Resources

About Us

Member Services

Special Features

Advertising Features