Microware Systems Corporation (NASDAQ:MWAR), a leading provider of embedded software solutions, announced today that it has signed an agreement to port Extended Systems' (NASDAQ:XTND) Bluetooth protocol stack to OS-9(R), its real-time operating system. Bluetooth for OS-9(R) will be available in the fall of 2000.
Bluetooth is a short-range radio technology that simplifies communications among devices such as cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and computers, as well as between those devices and the Internet. It also gives products as different as a mobile phone or a video camera the ability to communicate without wires. Bluetooth accomplishes this by connecting and networking devices via radio waves, transmitting data at a high rate within a limited range.
"Getting an RTOS with Bluetooth built-in is a huge head-start for clients needing wireless connectivity," said Ken Kaplan, president and CEO of Microware. "OS-9(R) will be the first RTOS to have a complete Bluetooth protocol stack built into the software, allowing developers to bring Bluetooth-enabled products to market faster than with any other embedded operating system. Instead of taking months to develop a custom Bluetooth stack, OS-9(R) developers can make a few simple modifications to their existing code."
"Once again, Microware is at the front of the pack," said David Hofacker, Extended Systems Universal Mobile Connectivity North American sales manager. "We have a leading Bluetooth SDK product and long-standing partner relationship with Microware which will allow them to seamlessly integrate this new technology into OS-9(R)."
Microware previously used Extended Systems' infrared (IrDA-compliant) protocols within OS-9(R).
Bluetooth devices are expected to be rapidly deployed within several key industries. Dataquest forecasts 100 million Bluetooth devices will ship by 2001, with a growth potential of 800 million. By 2004, Dataquest predicts one billion Bluetooth devices will be on the market.
"Bluetooth is set to explode, that's obvious," said Kaplan. "This technology has a lower power consumption than other wireless LAN technologies and an open specification allowing for worldwide implementation."
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