Motorola plans Bluetooth/modem combo

Communications giant Motorola plans to combine its modem technology with Bluetooth software to create a single PCI card allowing users two connection options in one product.

The company plans to introduce the internal mini-PCI cards next year, which will support both Bluetooth short-range radio connection technology and the V90 56Kbps modem standard.

According to Motorola, the integration provides PC original equipment manufacturers with a multifunction communications subsystem. Mike Tramontano, marketing director at Motorola's software products division, said that the combination of the two technologies is a natural transition. "We expect to make it as integral to the PC as the keyboard," he said.

Motorola also plans to integrate a variety of technologies into the PC platform including broadband and wireless local and wide area networks.

Joyce Putscher, an analyst with consultancy Cahners In-Stat, said: "Motorola's provisioning of the technology, coupled with its development of cost-effective integrated communications systems, positions [it] as a leader in this market."

Cahners expects the shipment of Bluetooth devices to surpass 1.4 billion by 2005.

Last month, Motorola introduced its first Bluetooth phone, the Timeport 270, which has an integrated speakerphone for hands-free communication and a Wap browser for web access reformatted for display on a mobile phone. The unit supports Bluetooth through a clip-on Smart Module that has a transmission range of 30 feet.