MSFT doesn't hate Bluetooth (see also there BT desktop solution and Windows Automotive 4.2 for example) but it's true that they were/are very cautious about it. There Bluetooth inplentation has very selective supported profiles and works with windows xp only. They didn't include the PAN profile for example so people could "bypass the PC and swap files, pic from a pda / phone / camera to another user". It seems that they will support the PAN profile but use there own active sync technology instead of the Bluetooth sync technology (?)......
"Microsoft's long-term is strategy is routing everything through the PC (thus) making it more relevant," Kay said. "So they have a tendency not to support things that bypass the PC."
Directions on Microsoft analyst Rob Helm said he found the software giant's position on the PAN profile somewhat perplexing, "because Microsoft co-designed that one."
The range of a PAN would be limited to about 30 feet, but could let consumers do more with Bluetooth devices beyond the PC. When Microsoft eventually does add PAN support, the company doesn't plan to support the more open Bluetooth sync protocol, but will instead run everything through its proprietary ActiveSync technology.
"If they supported the Bluetooth sync protocol, that would be vendor independent," Helm said. "Why would they do that? They would rather lock people into their own sync protocols with ActiveSync."
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105-962116.html
But Microsoft (Foley) also said "....our feeling is that all new innovation for Bluetooth should be done using PAN and IPv6. This way, Bluetooth automatically inherits any of the benefits that come from improvements to the Internet's protocols, and solutions that work with them. For example, if I make a printer, I would like to use the same software to connect that printer to the network regardless of what physical transports are used."
http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stor...881840,00.html
"The Redmond, Wash.-based software giant will debut Pocket PC 2003--code-named Ozone--on June 23, according to sources close to the company. The operating system is not expected to be a major revision of Pocket PC 2002, but it will include new features such as built-in support for wireless technologies Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The OS overhaul will occur in the next version of the operating system, code-named Magneto, due out next year."
http://news.com.com/2100-1041-1015726.html
Mobile Phones with Bluetooth
http://makeashorterlink.com/?L225259A3
Asus AGP 600 - cell phone powered by MS Smartphone software of NEXT GENERATION (seems to include Bluetooth....but availability?)
http://msmobiles.com/news.php/448.html
Maybe announcements like this will/can change something.....
New T-Mobile Unlimited Data - $19.99!
http://www.pocketpcpassion.com/forum...threadid=32704