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Bluetooth wireless sounds good for enterprise video

The concept is now being sold as the "Marble Falls Concept PC" - featuring what Intel has described as "enterprise applications using Bluetooth enabled wireless input devices such as mouse, keyboard and audio headset." The audio headset is an input device because it is "full-duplex" - that is, two-way. Or, to put it another way, it includes a microphone

Intel demonstrated this at its Developer Forum in California this week. Russ Campbell, Technical Marketing Engineer, Intel, said: "Impulsesoft delivered the first Bluetooth driver to incorporate the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile. This driver made it possible for us to demonstrate business applications with an easy to use, wireless solution that delivers a high quality audio experience."

But you don't have to restrict yourself to office "applications" such as video-conferencing; the ordinary domestic audiophile may be buying products based on this software soon.

Obviously, nobody is going to use Bluetooth for video; and neither is it going to be suitable for piping HiFi all around the house - it hasn't got the speed for moving pictures, and it hasn't got the range of wireless LAN equipment, or WiFi.

Manufacturer Impulsesoft describes its BluePC as "the fastest Bluetooth protocol stack solution for the PC environment," It's based on Microsoft's WDM (Windows Driver Model) architecture, and you aren't expected to buy one as a shopper. Rather, this is a building tool for other companies, giving them the ability to customize the software for use with their specific implementation.

"Impulsesoft has pioneered the deployment of Bluetooth audio solutions in the past year", said K. Srikrishna, Chief Executive Officer, Impulsesoft. "The demonstration of our audio solution on Intel's newest platform further validates our commitment to Bluetooth audio. With the release of BluePC incorporating Bluetooth SIG's Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) profile to deliver unmatched stereo quality audio we continue to demonstrate our leadership in wireless audio".

If you want the full press release just click. And all we know about Marble Falls, we found out from Craig Barrett, head of Intel, here. Essentially, it says: "Marble Falls concept PC is a desktop machine, which companies will make in 2004 and which will have built in New Card technology, a followup to CardBus, as well as integrated camera, dual monitor TV support, and new chipsets."

Some time in 2005, then ...

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