News

Government inertia prevents launch of "public access" wireless Bluetooth product

Public wireless access to "infotainment" at shop windows and point-of-sale is possible with a new product from Ericsson, the Blip - Bluetooth Local Infotainment Point - now announced in Japan. But it won't sell in the UK, because of Government foot-dragging.

The Blip is being offered for "pre-sale" by Expansys . It is "the first member in a new family of infrastructure solutions for local wireless communication," according to Ericsson's own publicity, and Expansys expects to be able to ship the product after June, when a Government White Paper is expected.

Trade sources say that the loss of the Blip isn't that great, right now, because they doubt that the device is finished.

One trade reseller said: "Ericsson is claiming they're selling this only to Japan, because of Government attitudes to chargeable wireless on unlicensed frequencies. But we think that what really happened, was someone inside Ericsson flew a kite."

This source described the Blip hardware as "beta-test level" and suggested that the Japanese sales were test marketing.

At Expansys, although the web site is advertising the Blip for sale, no prices are being quoted, and customers expressing an interest are being referred to Red-M's 1050 access point, which ships today for the first time. Pricing on the Red-M bluetooth devices is 300 pounds sterling, plus VAT for single quantities.

Publicity staff at Ericsson said that "Public access is the key to this product, and we won't launch it until it is unquestionably legal to do so. The most interesting applications are shop windows, billboards, trains, and we do understand that some pilot projects are under way, with rival products."

No comment could be obtained from the Radio Communications Agency, which is the authority which maintains that Bluetooth frequencies can't be used commercially.

Resellers contacted by The Mobile Campaign said that this was "hardly surprising."

One reseller said: "It's pointless trying to get sense from them. They are two years behind the times. They really don't know what is going on."

The Mobile Campaign contacted a senior executive inside the Radio Communications Agency, who said he was "unaware" of any attempts to read him for official comment, and would seek authority to respond tomorrow.