December 13, 2001
Microsoft Corporation outlines integration plans as Bluetooth SIG announces enhancements to include Input Devices for Computing Industry
The Bluetooth SIG, Inc. has announced that its Human Input Devices (HID) Working Group has released a definition for how Bluetooth(TM) wireless technology will enable input devices such as mice and keyboards for computing and other wireless capable products. These enhancements are part of the new Human Input Device Profile and are expected to be adopted by the Bluetooth SIG membership. Prototype products using this specification are expected by the middle of next year. Additionally, today at the Bluetooth Developers Conference, Microsoft Corporation announced its plans to provide integrated Bluetooth wireless support for the Windows XP operating system next year.
"Support continues to grow for high volume, easy to implement wireless standards and these announcements demonstrate the value of wireless in computing applications," said Simon Ellis, chairman of the Bluetooth SIG marketing committee. "The Bluetooth specification is meeting the needs of existing and new applications for wireless products by diligently focusing on worldwide interoperability and ease of use."
"Bluetooth wireless technology enables several scenarios that are important to our embedded and desktop operating system customers," said Dr. Michael Foley, wireless architect at Microsoft Corp. "To address these needs, Windows CE .NET already includes Bluetooth support and we are pleased to provide more detail this week regarding Microsoft's Bluetooth support roadmap for Windows XP, which includes adoption of the Human Input Device profile."
"Logitech has a long-standing commitment to the development of wireless peripherals for the PC platform and believes that Bluetooth wireless technology is a key factor in the evolution of wireless connectivity," said David Henry, senior vice president and general manager of Control Devices at Logitech. "Logitech is continuing our development of Bluetooth capable input devices and expects availability of an initial product next year."
The Bluetooth SIG provides a forum for companies to work together using short-range wireless technologies to solve customer problems. In response to interest by the computer accessory industry, the Bluetooth SIG formed the Human Interface Device Working Group in December of 1999.
Work continues among the Bluetooth Promoter and Associate member companies to add additional capabilities to the Bluetooth wireless specification. In-depth updates to the Bluetooth SIG membership and the development community regarding these efforts are occurring this week at the Bluetooth Developers Conference in San Francisco through Thursday, December 13, 2001.
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