WAVEclip Brings Bluetooth to Palm V

Posted By: Ed Wednesday, March 21, 2001 9:33:59 PM

Sunderland Technologies today debuted the WAVEclip, the world’s first clip-on Bluetooth adapter for Palm V handhelds. Because a lone Bluetooth module is pointless, it will be bundled with the BLUEcard, a Bluetooth PC card to facilitate file transfer and HotSync between the Palm and a notebook or PC. Each set will cost about $320 and is scheduled to ship in May.

It supports four distinct application profiles - Bluetooth HotSync to desktop; Bluetooth Point to Point Protocol connection to desktop; Bluetooth dial-up networking to a Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone and the Service Discovery Profile (SDP), which is a search for other Bluetooth-enabled devices and their respective ID names within the specified vicinity.

According to Sunderland, the WAVEclip features a sleek design which is handy and lightweight to keep it in the pocket.

It is powered by built-in rechargeable NiMH batteries and can be used continuously for more than 10 hours. The Palm V or Vx can also be recharged through the WAVEclip.

Operating on OS 3.5, it is compliant with the Bluetooth 1.0B specifications and operates within a radio frequency range of 2.4 – 2.4835 GHz, programmable for specific national regulations. The firmware is upgradeable to Bluetooth 1.1 specifications via a proprietary cable (included in the package).

Testing is under way with Palm's upcoming OS 4.0. Sunderland is currently developing a version that will work with the new Palm m505.

“After all the hype and excitement of Bluetooth, we are happy to say that Sunderland has successfully integrated the technology into working Bluetooth-enabled units” said Mr Jeremy Lee, Chief Executive Officer, Sunderland Technologies. “The WAVEclip is indeed a showcase of 100% wireless communications for handheld computing and we are confident that the clip-on will be a great extension to the wireless capability of Palm handhelds.”

BLUEcard
The BLUEcard is an external Bluetooth PC card (PCMCIA) adapter that allows host-enabled devices such as laptops to communicate with the Palm V handhelds. It supports wireless printing in combination with BLUEprint, a wireless printer adapter.

Bluetooth Technology
Bluetooth technology is a global specification for small form factor, low-cost wireless communication and networking between PCs, mobile phones and other portable devices. Endorsed by handheld and telecommunications manufacturers, Bluetooth uses an omni- directional signal to connect multiple devices up to 10 metres apart. It replaces cables and promotes seamless voice and data transmission via wireless, short-range radio.

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Finally Bluetooth shows some bite

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/21/2001 9:57:24 PM #
its been almost two years since i heard about blue tooth and good thing its coming out for palm. although i wont be using it, i'm sure many business users will be intergrating it into their office. hopefully nexxt years palm will inegrate it into palm os5 and be able to be used with the new g3 phone format coming out in the next year or so.
chris ;]

Bluetooth in Palm

Legible @ 3/22/2001 12:16:43 AM #
Personally I find having Bluetooth is a feature much more useful to consumers than to business users. The reason is Bluetooth's short range, necessitating a lot of base stations to be nearby, or to have a cellular device similarly Bluetooth equiped handy.

However, I do wish WAVEclip every success in launching their Bluetooth solution. It's great someone is finally doing something after all that hype that's been floating around year in and year out.

Now's waiting for phone companies to roll out Bluetooth phones and services!

"Low-cost wireless communication and networking"?

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/22/2001 3:49:45 AM #
A note of congartulations to Sunderland for coming up with a tangible Bluetooth solution for the Palm. Unfortunately, I don't see it being a "low-cost" alternative to what IrDA can already do; $320 isn't low-cost in any measure personally to me. At that price level, I'd rather get another m500 as a backup to my existing Palm.

Blimey, costs nearly as much as the Palm Vx itself

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/22/2001 8:06:31 AM #
Early days though

So close...

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/22/2001 10:48:02 PM #
I've been on a bluetooth beta test for the last month or so, and this technology screams for HotSyncing. We're at the chicken and the egg stage as this point, but I can see where this could be very big.

Although it's expensive, this is the first offering and it's primarily because you have to have two devices. On the beta, they had to send two cards so that we could test, because there's nothing else out there with Bluetooth capability.

Picture of WAVEclip

Ed @ 3/22/2001 11:45:38 PM #
Sunderland Technologies sent me a picture of the WAVEclip. It looks small enough that it might be something I'd carry around attached to my Palm all the time. Be sure to click on the picture for a close to life-sized version.

Also, they said they'd send me a copy for review when the m500 version was available. I'm looking forward to taking this thing for a test drive.

---
Plenipotentiary
Palm Infocenter

Bluetooth phones released

Lim M S @ 3/23/2001 5:17:45 AM #
Check out www.infosync.en for the release of Bluetooth & GPRS phones from Nokia, Ericsson & Siemens. Looks like the rest of the world will get these before the Americans unless you're using GSM there.
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