LAN Access Points, a Digital Camera and a Robot
Socket Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:SCKT)(PSE:SOK) and a variety of Bluetooth solution companies today highlighted the versatility and interoperability of Bluetooth wireless technology by showing Socket's CompactFlash Bluetooth plug-in card enabling cordless communication between a variety of devices including mobile phones, Pocket PCs, notebooks, printers, LAN access points, a digital camera and a robot.
The Socket Bluetooth Card is a plug-in card that fits in a CompactFlash slot or, via an adapter, the PC Card slot of a mobile computer, offering a convenient way to add wireless connectivity to other Bluetooth-enabled devices within a range of 10 meters (30 feet). The Socket Bluetooth Card is the only CompactFlash Bluetooth card for Windows-powered Pocket PCs qualified by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. The card was nominated for the Best Bluetooth Consumer Product award by the 2001 Bluetooth Congress and was selected for inclusion in the "Ultimate Wireless Kit," a collection of mobile connectivity products offered by Microsoft Corp.
"We're very excited to see the variety of devices and the scope of applications that are being shown working with our Bluetooth Card," said Peter Phillips, director of product marketing for Socket. "Interoperability is the top challenge for any new wireless standard, and interoperability requires the kind of cooperation demonstrated between Socket and our development partners. The signs are clear that Bluetooth wireless technology is making a successful transition from the laboratory to the marketplace where it can offer real benefits to mobile workers and consumers."
Connected by Socket: a Quick Tour of the Bluetooth World Congress
Here is a roundup of companies demonstrating Socket's CompactFlash Bluetooth Card at the Bluetooth Congress 2001 in Monte Carlo between June 5-8.
Axis Communications (Booth C12) showed Socket's Bluetooth Card working in a Pocket PC and communicating wirelessly with a local Ethernet network via the Axis 9010 Bluetooth Access Point. The 9010 Access Point makes it easy to create wireless "hot spots" in strategic venues, offering hotels, airports and shopping centers the opportunity to become their own mobile Internet service providers, or to deliver location-dependent information to customers. www.axis.com
BSQUARE(R) (Booth E3) utilized their WinDK(TM) Extension for Bluetooth(TM) to develop a transport driver that integrates Socket's CompactFlash Bluetooth Card to a fully qualified Bluetooth Protocol Software stack. BSQUARE demonstrated Socket's Bluetooth Card working in a notebook using a Windows 2000 Bluetooth Protocol Software Stack. BSQUARE's WinDK Extension for Bluetooth is a device driver development toolkit that enables developers to quickly and easily integrate Bluetooth wireless technology on a Microsoft(R) Windows(R) platform. www.bsquare.com
Certicom (Booth C14) demonstrated the Certicom movianVPN(TM) solution connecting securely into a corporate Intranet over a dial up Bluetooth connection and a Bluetooth LAN access connection. Using a Pocket PC with Socket's Bluetooth Card, Certicom established a secure (IPsec) connection with a remote intranet over a dial up connection with a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone providing the data link. Certicom's movianVPN features the support of two-factor authentication including token cards like SecurID with gateways from Alcatel, Cisco Systems, and Nortel Networks. www.certicom.com
CETECOM (Booth E14) will use Socket's Bluetooth Card as a testing reference solution during the Bluetooth Congress in Monte Carlo. The testing system displayed 'BITE' will be used by CETECOM official Bluetooth Qualification Test Facilities (BQTF) and also by many Bluetooth manufacturers to qualify their products efficiently. CETECOM assisted Socket in listing their first Bluetooth product, which allows the card to bear the Bluetooth(TM) trademark. www.cetecom.com
connectBlue (Booth S11) demonstrated Socket's Bluetooth Card installed in a Compaq iPAQ Pocket PC used to control a Lego robot via Bluetooth. The Lego robot was connected via its RS232 interface to connectBlue's Serial Port Adapter(TM) via Bluetooth to the iPAQ. The IPAQ ran a Visual Basic application from which the operator controlled the robot. www.connectblue.com
Inventel (Booth F6) showed Socket's Bluetooth Card connecting a Compaq iPAQ Pocket PC to Inventel's BlueDSL(TM) access point, an ADSL Bluetooth modem that serves as a gateway for connecting Bluetooth devices to both an ADSL line for high speed data and a PSTN line for voice. A design house and a manufacturer of RF products, Inventel offers custom designs and quick-turn product development of wireless devices. www.inventel.com
Mezoe (Booth H14) showed Socket's Bluetooth solution in a Pocket PC device running Mezoe's BlueStack(TM) software. Mezoe's tools for software development and debugging make it easy to integrate Bluetooth(TM) into a broad range of devices. Their products include Bluetooth protocol stacks, reference designs, development tools and the knowledge transfer necessary to make it as easy as possible for product developers to use wireless technologies. www.mezoe.com
Norwood Systems (Booth D8) demonstrated Socket's Bluetooth Card installed in a Pocket PC working with Norwood's EnterpriseMobility(TM) solution for deploying Bluetooth to create a wireless office. Norwood's technology can integrate mobile voice and data devices into the office network of LAN and PBX to add mobility to in-building corporate information systems. www.norwoodsystems.com
ReefEdge (Booth E12) Mobile Domains(TM) allow users of handheld mobile devices and laptops to access applications, services and information, communicate across an open platform, and interface with networked resources such as printers and projectors. ReefEdge's technology platform enables wireless LANs to be quickly, securely and economically deployed in enterprise environments. It offers IP level roaming and adds additional security, control and accountability features to the network. ReefEdge demonstrated the use of Bluetooth in the Mobile Domain deploying Socket CompactFlash Bluetooth Cards with an iPaq Pocket PC. www.reefedge.com
Socket Communications (Booth B9) showed how the Socket Bluetooth Card can allow a Pocket PC to use Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones from Ericsson and Nokia as wireless modems for web browsing and email, print wirelessly to an HP Deskjet 995c inkjet printer, access an Ethernet network via the Axis 9010 Bluetooth Access Point from Axis Communications, and exchange electronic business cards with another Pocket PC. www.socketcom.com
TROY XCD (Booth A6) demonstrated Bluetooth wireless printing from a Pocket PC enabled with Socket's Bluetooth Card. TROY XCD's Windconnect(TM) Bluetooth Adapter attaches to virtually any printer to allow printing from devices like the Pocket PC over a Bluetooth wireless link. www.troyxcd.com
Wind River (Booth I4) demonstrated Socket's Bluetooth Card working in a StormPad Internet Appliance reference platform powered by Wind River's market-leading VxWorks(R) real-time operating system. Socket's cards allowed the StormPad to download images wirelessly from a digital camera from Kodak. www.windriver.com
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