Wireless Watcher

Tech the Halls

By Jennifer Hooker, IEN Staff

June 11, 2008 —Despite a recent heat wave in the Big Apple, the holiday spirit was all around Tavern on the Green at the Bluetooth SIG 2008 Holiday Gift Guide event. Though we were a little disappointed that there weren’t any decorations or Christmas music at any of the booths, there was a plethora of little wireless gadgets to satisfy technophile appetites.  

Start Your Engines

The usual suspects, including Jabra, Plantronics, Parrot, and Blue Ant, all had booths displaying their latest headsets, especially since July 1 will mark California’s ban on driving with cell phones. Consequently, car tech and Bluetooth kits had a strong presence at the event.

Even though the American Automobile Association notes that studies show that hands-free cell phone use is just as dangerous as handheld cell phone use, as it is the conversation that distracts the driver, there were plenty of devices with automobiles in mind:

• Ford had one of its vehicles featuring Microsoft’s Sync technology which embeds Bluetooth functionality directly into the car. The technology relies heavily on voice recognition to control music. Sync also uses Bluetooth to pair with cell phones allowing drivers to chat on a speakerphone without requiring a headset or other wearable device.
• Plantronics was also featuring Bluetooth car kits as well as its Discovery 925 luxury headset. Reps described the high-end accessory as a piece of tech jewelry with a sleek design. The headset also includes AudioIQ noise cancelling technology for clearer calls.
• TomTom was displayed its latest GPS navigator, the GO 730, which is Bluetooth enabled and offers a “Help Me” emergency menu that allows drivers to call for help during an emergency or accident.
• Parrot realized that motorcyclists also need hands-free calling and demonstrated its SK4000 helmet headset. The helmet allows people to listen to MP3s and the radio, in addition to having conversations. The helmet headset also includes a remote control so motorcyclists can keep their hands on close to their hog’s handles.

Pump Up the Volume

We were also inundated with music and entertainment devices ranging from iPod sound docks to a Bluetooth MP3 watch.

• iHome introduced its IP47 clock radio which was designed for the iPhone along with the rest of Apple’s iPod line. The clock radio/sound dock also acts as a phone, when connected to a cell phone and has a dialing pad on the unit and on the remote control.
• Vroop showcased its Liveboard which displays real-time baseball stats and scores using a Bluetooth connection to a computer. The device can sit up to 60 feet away from a computer and includes an adapter in case the user’s PC isn’t Bluetooth enabled.
• The GoldLantern booth had plenty of Bluetooth accessories on display, but it was its MP3 watch that was turning heads at the event. The waterproof watch holds 1GB worth of songs and pairs with Bluetooth headphones via the A2DP stereo profile.   

Bluetooth for Industrial Apps:

While the event was mostly consumer oriented, we got the chance to chat with Bluetooth SIG reps that assured us that industrial use of the wireless technology is on the rise. They also predicted that the low energy Bluetooth profile, expected to be released mid-2009, to have a huge impact on sensors and barcode scanners, along with industrial PC apps.

Ohio-based communication component manufacturer, MACTek Corporation, has released the Viator Bluetooth Interface point-to-point HART PC modem. According to Thomas Holmes, president of MACTek, the modem uses a high power/high speed Bluetooth Interface that communicates to devices up to 100 meters away. Unlike traditional modems that require a wired connection, the Viator offers a temporary wireless connection between PCs or PDAs and transmitters for configuration management. 

The SIG also expected Bluetooth to have a stronger presence in the automotive industry, and not just with hands-free calling. According to reps, word on the street is that the wireless technology will increase in vehicle diagnostics. They also noted that FedEx and Intellibus System in Milan, Italy currently use Bluetooth to download reports on vehicle operations for their entire fleet.