'Sony Seeks Role as Bluetooth Trendsetter': Sony's Infostick Engineers
March 22, 2001 (TOKYO) -- Sony Corp. developed a new type of Memory Stick called "Infostick" with a built-in Bluetooth transceiver module.
The company will soon begin delivering samples. The following is an interview conducted by Nikkei Electronics with Hiroshi Matsubara, manager, Network System Department of the Mixed Device Group at the Semiconductor Network Co. of Sony; and Yasushi Fujita, assistant manager, Business Development Section of the Memory Stick Division at the Core Technology and Network Co. of Sony.
Nikkei Electronics: Why did you start this project?
Fujita: We started it early in 1999. It began with a basic concept of a Memory Stick to "access the Internet just by being attached to any terminal." We wanted to create something that can be a "(communication) device by itself, if it is attached to a terminal." So we integrated a network ID, a service ID, communications settings, application settings, and all other necessary information into the Infostick.
With this easy-to-carry-around Infostick, any terminal turns into a device for sending/receiving e-mail messages. That's why we designed the Infostick to retain TCP/IP protocol stacks and address information in its memory.
In addition, an issue arose as to how to use the slot for the Memory Stick, that is, how to enhance it for network use.
Q: There are other alternatives in addition to Bluetooth for realizing such a network. What made you choose the Bluetooth technology?
Matsubara: We were looking for a low-cost and an easy-to-use technology. For example, we studied the feasibility of "IEEE802.11b," a standard for wireless LAN. But, after examining three key factors, namely low power consumption, compactness and implementation costs, we decided that Bluetooth was the best choice.
Q: What is the current stage of development?
Matsubara: As chipsets and other resources became available recently, we have come to a stage of working on a transceiver module. So now, we must focus on how to use it. Thus, we have come to the stage of creating applications. At Sony, this issue is under study within the scope of possible business models.
We pushed the development of the Infostick ahead of commercialization, because we wanted to be trendsetters in Bluetooth technology. We hoped to demonstrate our initiative in deploying Bluetooth, both within and outside of Sony.
Q: You use baseband LSIs developed by Sony for a chipset in the module. Why?
Matsubara: In order to reduce the mounting area, we planned to put both the Memory Stick control circuit and the Bluetooth transmission circuit on a single chip. But, we cannot disclose the specs including baseband core, I/O interface of an RF transceiver LSI as well as the name of the vendor providing RF transceiver LSIs. However, I can tell you that Sony did develop the software stack internally, including the RF, baseband, Link Manager, L2CAP and RFCOMM.
Q: What about worries over delays in standardization and commercialization of Bluetooth technology?
Matsubara: There's no denying that Bluetooth hasn't been as prevalent as its standardization organization initially expected. But entirely new technologies often can't be transplanted easily, in real life. On the contrary, we are satisfied that the development process so far has been steady.
Related stories:
Bluetooth Devices Unable to Communicate with Each Other: Solution Unlikely to Appear Within 2001
Sony to Launch Sales of Bluetooth Adapter for CLIE PDAs in June
(Interview by Hiroshi Yomogita, Staff Editor, Nikkei Electronics)
nikkeibp.asiabiztech.com. |
