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bluetooth sig posts

Motorola VE440 "Cadbury" shows up with the Bluetooth SIG folks

by Chris Ziegler, posted Jun 26th 2009 @ 6:38PM

Want a sneak peek at Motorola's first Android phone? Well, you're looking in decidedly the wrong place -- but if you want to know what's coming down the pike in the company's low-end stable (and who doesn't?), look no further than our dear friends at the Bluetooth SIG. Ever since the SIG's database started offering Mr. Blurrycam-style shots of upcoming products, we've really started to warm up to their ways -- and the VE440 is the latest to roll up to the counter. There's not much to see here, but we know from the SIG filing that it's a CDMA phone destined for North American markets, so we wouldn't be surprised to see this on, say, Cricket or MetroPCS in the near future.

[Via mobile-review]

Motorola W766 "Harmony" for Verizon gets Bluetooth SIG certification

by Chris Ziegler, posted Jun 15th 2009 @ 12:34PM

In terms of leaking juicy product info, we're accustomed to the Bluetooth SIG being one of the least helpful certification bodies around town, so imagine our surprise to see those guys outing the upcoming Motorola W766 (codenamed "Harmony," apparently) with some photography. This clamshell certainly isn't anything special, but we've heard from other sources that it'll likely replace the W755 -- which basically looked old the moment it was launched -- at some point in the next few months. Oh, and yes, no worries -- A2DP's in the cards.

[Via mobile-review]

Bluetooth 3.0 to use WiFi for high-speed file transfers

by Nilay Patel, posted Apr 13th 2009 @ 9:02PM

Sounds like the Bluetooth 3.0 announcement on April 21 is going to finally usher in the era of high-speed short-range data transfers -- as previously hinted, the new spec will actually negotiate a quick'n'dirty ad-hoc WiFi connection between devices if it needs to move bits in a hurry, and then turn off the spigot to save power when it's done. The idea is to leverage the speed of WiFi while keeping power usage low, and we'd say it's a pretty trick solution, since most Bluetooth-capable devices also have WiFi radios (cough, Storm). Since the ad-hoc WiFi connection is managed over Bluetooth, no actual wireless network is necessary, and the switch will appear seamless to the user -- except for the sudden increase in data transfer speeds. Yeah, it's definitely slick stuff -- we're looking forward to seeing the first devices in action next Tuesday.

[Via MocoNews]

HTC Fiesta is "an Android phone," so says Bluetooth SIG

by Chris Ziegler, posted Apr 11th 2009 @ 5:17PM

We know from countless encounters with our dear, dear friends at the Bluetooth Special Interest Group that their certifications aren't as... shall we say, "detailed" as their counterparts at the FCC; frequently, we don't even bother with them because there's simply nothing there to talk about. Android phones are still pretty difficult to come by, though, so whenever we see the platform mentioned in a certification of any kind, we're bound to sit up and take notice -- particularly when said certification comes via HTC. Tipster Jeff came across a filing for an HTC "Fiesta" in the SIG this time around, descriptively noted as "an Android phone" that'll be available in Asia, Europe, and North America. Other than that, we can count on it having Bluetooth (would be funny if it didn't, wouldn't it?), but that's about it; the G1 / Dream was the Kila, the Magic was the Sapphire, so what's this gonna be?

[Thanks, Jeff]

Bluetooth 3.0 specification to debut on April 21st

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 9th 2009 @ 9:48AM

We've seen no official word from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, but phonescoop has it that the Bluetooth 3.0 specification is just about ready for prime time. Reportedly, the spec will feature "dramatically increased speeds, allowing for the transfer of large video files, music collections and photo libraries wirelessly within seconds." BT 3.0 should also include a newfangled ability called Enhanced Power Control (EPC), which will supposedly "reduce the occurrence of disconnects that can be caused by actions such as putting a phone in a pocket, backpack, briefcase or purse." We're told to expect a whole boatload of details, along with a list of chip makers already lined up to provide support, on April 21st.

Update: It's official -- April 21st is a go. Head past the break for the official verbiage.

Continue reading Bluetooth 3.0 specification to debut on April 21st

HTC Cedar's Bluetooth certification might confirm leaked lineup

by Chris Ziegler, posted Feb 2nd 2009 @ 11:41PM

We hadn't had much doubt that HTC's leaked 2009 wares were real as it was -- especially considering that we've seen the Android-powered Sapphire doing its thing in the wild -- but these are the kinds of deals where we like just as much confirmation as we can possibly get, you know? To that end, the good ol' Bluetooth SIG is hooking us up with certification information for an HTC Cedar, which just happens to one of the many, many devices in that leak. The Cedar itself is probably one of the least interesting phones in the group, an unassuming portrait QWERTY piece -- but more importantly, it proves that "Cedar" is a valid codename in HTC's current vernacular, so we can count on seeing other models in that bunch like the Tungsten, Whitestone, and Thoth as well.

[Via wmpoweruser.com]

Bluetooth SIG promises high-speed specification next summer, likely BT 3.0

by Darren Murph, posted Dec 8th 2008 @ 8:29PM

After putting those nasty Bluetooth 2.2 rumors to bed, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group has directly informed Wireless Week that it will indeed look to come out with a "high-speed specification next summer." Of course, we've been waiting on such a thing for, like, ever now, but Executive Director Mike Foley has asserted that when the spec arrives in summer 2009 it will likely be sitting at 3.0. What's 3.0 promising? Faster overall transmission speeds and quicker connections, namely. So, what's the over / under on the Bluetooth SIG actually delivering?

[Via phonescoop]

The HTC QUAR100: a North American exclusive?

by Chris Ziegler, posted Sep 8th 2008 @ 11:28PM

Once again, the mysterious Bluetooth SIG has left us with more questions than answers. Yes, okay, so there's an HTC "QUAR100" that we have to worry about now, but what is it? Given the gem theme they've set up for themselves, odds are the "QUAR" stands for "Quartz" -- though our comprehensive set of Scrabble tools reminds us that it could also be "Quart," "Quarterback," or "Quarterfinalist," among many others -- and we can at least glean that it's a phone (as opposed to, say, a standalone PDA) with WiFi. The most intriguing thing we've got going here might be the mention of North America as the one and only region for planned availability, an unusual move more frequently reserved for HTC's CDMA devices than anything else. Any educated (or not-so-educated guesses) out there?

[Via Cellpassion]

Read - WiFi certification
Read - Bluetooth SIG certification

Motorola Q11 is probably like the Q9, but two better

by Chris Ziegler, posted Sep 3rd 2008 @ 1:12PM

There's a "Motorola Q11" chilling in the Bluetooth SIG's product directory, and while the SIG is famously tight-lipped about revealing gory details about its members' unreleased wares, we see that it's a "Phone, Handheld" running Windows Mobile 6.1 Smartphone. Then again, given the name and the Q series' storied history, we probably could've gathered that -- and we can probably also count on it having something to do with that Alexander we saw not long ago. Only question is, is the Alexander really two whole numbers in the integer line better than the Q9? Time'll tell.

[Via Cellpassion]

HTC Rose mentioned by Bluetooth SIG, inspires daydreams of Android

by Chris Ziegler, posted Jul 21st 2008 @ 7:09PM

So when the Bluetooth SIG leaks a new handset, it's a leak of epically tiny proportions. Instead of the wealth of test reports we have the distinct pleasure of poring over when we get a juicy device via the FCC, the good ol' SIG gives us a single table of mostly meaningless information -- and that's in a best-case scenario. The worst case is where we get a model name or codename, geographic availability, and manufacturer name, and that's it. Such is the case with the HTC Rose, a phone we've never heard of before, and for all we know, may never hear about again. Our wild imaginations can easily concoct amazing Android-powered superphones with WVGA displays, 8-megapixel autofocus cameras, and 32GB of ROM until the cows come home, but this could just as easily be an EDGE-only Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard sleeper with all the design inspiration of an '82 Ford Escort. Or, you know, more likely something in between.

[Via Cellpassion]

What's the HTC CONV100?

by Chris Ziegler, posted Mar 5th 2008 @ 8:09PM

Don't expect the tight-lipped boys and girls at the Bluetooth SIG to tell you much, but HTC's brewing up something -- and that something has Bluetooth. Not the most informative bit of data, we know, but there's not a lot to go on from browsing the SIG's approval of the new device. HTC's internal model numbers typically start with the first four letters of the handset's codename, so start thinking of words that start with "CONV" -- bonus points for coming up with things tied to Greek mythology -- and let us know what you've got.

[Via the::unwired]

Bluetooth SIG looks at Bluetooth-WiFi to hasten transfers

by Darren Murph, posted Feb 10th 2008 @ 4:35PM

If you'll recall, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group already had plans laid out to speed up Bluetooth by teaming it up with UWB, but needless to say, that didn't exactly take the world by storm. Thankfully, it seems the crew is trying something else in an effort to speed up BT transfers, and judging by the ubiquity of WiFi, we reckon this endeavor has a much better chance at gaining traction. According to Michael Foley, director of the Bluetooth SIG, these so-called Bluetooth-WiFi (just a temporary name, folks) devices will "use the regular low-power Bluetooth radios to recognize each other and establish connections, and if they need to transfer a large file, they will be able to turn on their WiFi radios, then turn them off to save power after finishing the transfer." For whatever reason, Foley also noted that it wouldn't be letting the dream go with regard to Bluetooth-UWB -- we're sure consumers will adore the confusion.

Bluetooth pairs with cake for 10th birthday

by Chris Ziegler, posted Jan 8th 2008 @ 11:54PM

Everyone raise your glasses for a toast, will you? The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (better known as the Bluetooth SIG to its pals) is throwing itself a little party celebrating ten years since its inception. It's been one heck of a decade, too, considering that the SIG started with just five members and has since grown to over 10,000; in that same span, wireless headsets have become all but ubiquitous, the standard has come to countless products covering hundreds of product categories, and a grand total of 1.5 billion-plus devices have shipped with that now-famous stylized "B" emblazoned somewhere on their shell. So just how does a special interest group shake its moneymaker on such a momentous occasion? A spat of playful Bluejacking, perhaps? Nah, nothing that saucy -- just a private party for SIG members at CES. Here's to another ten, Bluetooth.

Another version of the HTC Neon gets in the mix

by Chris Ziegler, posted Dec 19th 2007 @ 1:50PM

Remember that NEON100 we spied via the FCC's loose lips a few weeks back? Turns out there's at least one more version of the Touch variant being prepped -- but this time, the info comes from another famously leaky source, the Bluetooth SIG. Details are extraordinarily slim here since we don't even have the benefit of an RF test report, but we do know that it'll support Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR (seeing how this is the Bluetooth SIG's database and all). In a perfect world, this sucker would turn out to be a Touch with triband HSDPA, but odds are, we really won't know until HTC is good'n ready for us to know.

[Via the::unwired]

HTC "Kii" revealed by Bluetooth SIG

by Chris Ziegler, posted Sep 24th 2007 @ 3:48PM

We've no idea what this is, but pretty much any new codeword out of HTC is big news. Seriously, isn't it kinda fun to find out what wacky name they're going to come up with for the next device? Anyway, the Bluetooth SIG -- which is kinda like the FCC for leakage, but typically with even less information since Bluetooth is all those folks really care about -- has thrown up a little splash of info for an HTC "Kii." We know it's a smartphone (as opposed to, say, a UMPC) and it rocks out with Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, but beyond that, your guess is as good as ours. Can't you just feel the anticipation in the air?

[Via the::unwired]