Bluetooth, the wireless technology that will allow portable devices and peripherals to connect to one another and to PCs, was given the cold shoulder this week by Microsoft. Microsoft has decided that XP, the next version of its Windows operating system, won't support Bluetooth. The software giant blamed a lack of Bluetooth-enabled hardware for its decision. The bad news came on top of concerns that Bluetooth could have a powerful rival. 802.11b, a wireless local area network (LAN) standard is catching on in America, and some experts believe its popularity could come at the expense of Bluetooth. However, it is not all doom and gloom. In Hannover last month, at the World's largest trade show, manufacturers such as Hewlett-Packard, Ericsson and Psion were showing off Bluetooth devices -- and a Linux-based PDA with Bluetooth connectivity will be on sale by this summer. NEWS:
Bluetooth bite blunted by MS pullout
Fri, 06 Apr While Microsoft's lack of faith in wireless standard isn't fatal it doesn't help the Bluetooth image much either Bluetooth exiled from LAN of hope and glory
Thu, 05 Apr The 802.11b wireless LAN standard is growing ever more popular in the US, but it could limit Bluetooth's success Microsoft drops Bluetooth from Windows XP
Tue, 03 Apr Microsoft says the hardware is not stable enough to support in its next OS release. When will Bluetooth finally arrive? HP unwraps its Bluetooth technology
Fri, 23 Mar At CeBIT 2001, Hewlett-Packard produced new PDAs, notebooks and Bluetooth printer adapters for your delectation Linux PDA featuring Bluetooth on sale by summer
Thu, 22 Mar The Mitac Cat PDA will feature Bluetooth connectivity in addition to its fast, mobile, Linux-based OS for less than $200 COMMENT

Bluetooth hoo-hah sets my teeth on edge
Microsoft's announcement that XP won't ship with native support for Bluetooth has the tech media in a tizzy. That said, Jason Brooks reckons Bluetooth is for real and predicts that we should look forward to the sort of basic cable replacement tasks for which the technology was designed. Soon all your digital devices could be talking to one another, without wires. Find out how with the Bluetooth special Have your say instantly, and see what others have said. Click on the TalkBack button and go to the ZDNet news forum. Let the editors know what you think in the Mailroom. And read other letters.