San Francisco; Embedded Systems Conference — (press release excerpt) — Motorola Computer Group today announced its strategy to provide Bluetooth wireless technology for the first time on embedded infrastructures running on a choice of three operating systems — Linux, VxWorks, and Windows 2000 — and two processor architectures — PowerPC and Intel.

This wide computing choice, offered on Motorola's flexible and powerful embedded Bluetooth computing platforms, will help provide the infrastructure needed for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to add wireless communication capabilities to stationary equipment including MRI machines, desktop printers and copiers. Motorola's platform provides OEMs with a one-stop-shop Bluetooth solution. Motorola is a leader in the development and implementation of Bluetooth wireless technology, with an extensive company-wide roadmap of Bluetooth products and as a member of the Promoter group, which leads the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG).

Dr. Jeff Harris, director of research and system architecture, cross-industry business unit, Motorola Computer Group, said “analysts estimate that the total market potential for Bluetooth wireless technology infrastructure could approach 100 million units per year by 2005.” “Our customers who are building equipment in the medical, printing and imaging markets see Bluetooth wireless technology as a competitive advantage and a way to set themselves apart in their industries,” continued Harris. “Over the next year, we will work closely with them to develop our platforms to their equipment specifications to help bring these products to market.”

Motorola will be exhibiting an embedded single-board computer enabled with Bluetooth wireless technology at this week's Embedded Systems Conference in San Francisco. Motorola will demonstrate printing and remote access to the user interface of an embedded computer over a Bluetooth wireless link. Other possible Bluetooth applications lie in the medical market. For example, Bluetooth wireless technology can be included in diagnostic equipment to help provide physicians with immediate access to their patients' test or treatment information. Patient information can be wirelessly transferred to the stationary diagnostic machine, eliminating manual input errors, increasing patient accuracy and providing the doctor added convenience.

With this new initiative, Motorola will collaborate with OEMs throughout the year and anticipates the first Bluetooth wireless technology platforms to be available early in 2002.

 
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