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-- BlueConnect released a bit early? (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=5444)

I was searching the available products over at bluetooth.com and only found one product. It's a wireless headset from Ericsson.

Will any of you guys buy a BlueConnect module without anything to connect to?

(I know products are coming, but it seems like a cart-before-horse issue.)

[This message has been edited by Rooster (edited 06-13-2000).]

I think they have, or will soon have, the PCMCIA bluetooth card which will at least let you hotsync wirelessly between your Visor and PC/laptop. But I agree that this won't take off until there are bluetooth-enabled phones and direct network hubs available.

If it's cheap enough (which I doubt) I'd buy the module and the PC card and figure that in the future I'll have a blue-tooth stereo, TV, and VCR (or some other useful blue-widgets).

Since Motorola is a Bluetooth producer and also a producer of chips for Handspring, I don't think it will be long before we see future Visor models with Bluetooth built in. I would expect the Palms to have this built in too in the near future. I can't wait until Bluetooth is more widely incorporated into products.

I don't think the BlueConnect was released too early. If fact, I don't think it was released at all (try to find the magic word, "shipping," in the press release). I emailed Acer (maker of the actual module). Here's the relevant part of the response:

Just to keep you posted, there has been a general delay in Bluetooth products across the industry because of the unavailability of necessary chipsets by chipset providers. Because the chipset production has been pushed back, we are expecting to have the first Bluetooth units available towards the end of the year, or early Q4, at the earliest.

I have some following up to do on this announcement for a story I'm writing. I'll let you know if the shipping delay applies to the BlueConnect module itself.

[This message has been edited by Gameboy70 (edited 06-13-2000).]

James was a bit overzealous in his front page news item. Only thing 'released' that I can read is the API design. Vaporware I'm afraid as for now.

Mike

After re-reading the press release, it appears it is just the API as you mentioned, dequardo.

Still, it is something to look forward to.

Mea Culpa! I corrected the news item. I saw that pr just before a meeting and wanted to get it posted ASAP. Next time I'll just be late to the meeting

------------------
James Hromadka
VisorCentral.com
Personal Website: http://www.Hromadka.com

Dequardo is right. Just for the record, Acer confirmed that the BlueConnect is slated of the end of this year or the beginning of next year.