Ericsson Breaks Out the Blue

By Michael Foley

(03/13/01, 12:21:01 PM EDT)

Ericsson has unveiled a product that allows electronic equipment to access location-specific information, such as retail sales promotions or hotel vacancies. The device, called BLIP -- Bluetooth Local Infotainment Point, is Ericsson's second product using Bluetooth technology, which provides wireless connection for mobile phones, laptop computers, or handheld devices.

Apart from selling the actual hardware, Ericsson will develop content solutions, both in-house and through third-party developers. In order to rapidly increase the number of available applications, the software platform will be open to external developers.

BLIP is appealing because of its low cost -- the device will sell for less than 5,000 Swedish crowns ($510). It will be in stores in Sweden by summer and elsewhere later this year. The information, which can be transmitted up to 10 meters, will be free of charge to the user.