Broadcom Upgrade its Bluetooth for Windows Software

Bluetooth has upgraded it’s BTW (Bluetooth for Windows) to version 6.4.  This new version it to facilitate better interaction between Bluetooth devices – that are based on the windows operating system, and to help drive more advance Bluetooth functionality into a wider collection of consumer connectivity applications.  Included in BTW 6.4 are two new profiles that extend Bluetooth enabled devices to communicate with other devices.

The two new profiles added are Health Device Profile (HDP) which allows the connection of fitness monitoring and Health devices to interact with a PC.  So devices such as blood pressure monitoring, heart rate monitors and weight scales that are Bluetooth enabled can pass information back to a PC.  The other profile is Message Access Profile (MAP), which gives Bluetooth devices a easier way to access and exchange messages.

"As Bluetooth continues to expand into products and applications beyond wireless headsets, software innovation becomes increasingly important to enable new functionality and ensure that Bluetooth works well with other technologies like Wi-Fi(R).” Craig Ochikubo, Vice President & General Manager, Broadcom's Wireless Personal Area Networking line of business, “Our BTW software is the most mature and widely deployed Windows software in the industry and our ability to add new features and simplify ease of use keeps us at the forefront of the evolving Bluetooth ecosystem."

The Broadcom BTW architecture is used by eight of the top ten OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) in the world; for their Windows devices such as Netbooks, PC, Smartphones and Notebooks.  The BTW solution has ten years of research and development behind it, which shows it maturity.

Phil Solis, Practice Director Wireless Connectivity, ABI Research said "Bluetooth software continues to be a key differentiator for technology suppliers, with new and innovative functionality increasingly happening at the software layer. As a key supplier of wireless technologies, Broadcom's continued enhancement of its BTW software enables better cooperation among various devices that will help drive the expansion of the growing wireless ecosystem in consumer electronics devices."