Toshiba gets more blue in the tooth

By Alun Williams

Posted on 25 Sep 2002 at 17:27

Toshiba announces a new Bluetooth SDIO card.

Supporting Bluetooth wireless comms, the updated card is aimed at PCs, PDAs, mobile phones and digicams - anything equipped with an SD slot.

Toshiba released its first Bluetooth SDIO card back in July 2001 - with the Japanese launch of its 'Genio' PocketPC-based handheld. The new SDIO card is a 9mm shorter package and, Toshiba claims, features a 50 per cent cut power in consumption. The new card also has a flat profile.

While samples of the card are now available, mass production is slated for October 2002.

In terms of standards and specifications, the card meets the SDIO Spec v1.0 and Bluetooth version 1.1. It will also will fully conform with the SDIO Card Type-B specification for Bluetooth.

The card has been given radio type approval by regulatory authorities in 20 countries and regions, across Europe, Japan and the US.

Toshiba is one of the stronger proponents of Bluetooth technology. With its first Bluetooth-related products dating back to 2000, it is the sole Japanese member of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group.

Bluetooth is a wireless technology that can be used to create ad-hoc networks with up to seven other devices. These, in turn, can interact, creating 'scatternets'. It has a range of about 10m and a data transfer rate of roughly 730Kbits/sec. From a powered base station, the range increases to 100m.