OZ Bluetooth developer shines at ComNet
- — 02 February, 2001 10:26
Founded just over a year ago to develop Bluetooth-based wireless networks for voice and data, Norwood appeared to be the only company at this week's show actively promoting a Bluetooth product. This was somewhat surprising given that the Comdex trade show in November showcased the technology in products from several vendors. Bluetooth allows devices to communicate wirelessly within a range of up to 10 meters at a transmission speed of about 721Kbps.. The market is projected to explode to 1.4 billion Bluetooth-enabled products worldwide by 2005, according to market watchers Cahners In-Stat Group.
Norwood Systems, based both in the UK and Perth, Australia, introduced and demonstrated its award winning EnterpriseMobility telephony platform at ComNet. It will go into trials in February at Ernst & Young, one of the largest banks in the world, said Paul Ostergaard, chief executive officer of Norwood Systems. In addition, the company has signed a memorandum of understanding with a US systems integrator and a maker of telephone PBXs (private branch exchanges) to become channel partners in the distribution of the technology.
"We've been running in stealth mode and only just came out publicly with our solution," Ostergaard said.
EnterpriseMobility will allow office workers to remain connected to their company's information systems with the aid of base stations that are placed around the office, picking up radio signals from a number of devices, including Bluetooth-enabled PCs, headsets and Palm Inc. handheld devices, Ostergaard said.
Ostergaard demonstrated how a user can dial a telephone number from the key pad of a Palm and connect a cordless headset to a regular fixed-line desk phone. Companies that have shown interest in the product include those that want to increase the productivity of their workforces by liberating them from their desks, Ostergaard said.
The price of the system, which is due on the market in May, will be comparable the to per-user price of a fixed-line, PBX-based office system, or roughly $US450 per user for 50 to 100 users, Ostergaard said. One base station will support about eight users, he said.
The EnterpriseMobility system uses software written by Norwood Systems, Bluetooth-enabled hardware from Axis Communications in its base stations, Cambridge Silicon Radio (CSR) for chips, and Ericsson and GN Netcom for the headsets. The product also includes tools designed to reduce the skill level needed to manage coverage or increase capacity, Ostergaard said.
