The Number of Bluetooth Printer Adapters Grows

Two different Bluetooth printer adapters have been announced. These are usable by both Palm OS and Pocket PC models.

Bluetooth USBPrinter Adapter

Roving Networks Inc. and Belkin have announced their Bluetooth USBPrinter Adapter (F8T031), a plug-and-play adapter that wirelessly enables any USB or parallel printer

It features instant installation with no settings required, works using HCRP and SPP profiles, and includes over-the-air flash upgrade capability enabling support of future profiles and printer applications.

The USBPrinter Adapter will be available at major retail outlets and distributors later this month for $99.99. More information is available on the Belkin web site.

WindConnect II

TROY Group Inc. has released the WindConnect II Bluetooth wireless printer adapter that incorporates next generation Bluetooth wireless technology. There is a USB and a parallel version of this device.

The WindConnect II supports a wide variety of printer profiles, including SPP, HCRP, BPP, and BIP. It has a Class 2 Bluetooth radio, so its range is about 30 feet.

It is available now for about $196.

More About Printer Profiles

Serial Port Profile (SPP) In this mode the data is passed unmodified to the printer. That is, the sending device and Bluetooth adapter look to the software as though they are communicating via a hardwired RS-232 connection. Therefore, the adapters can be used with any application that supports printing over the serial port. This means that standard printer drivers can be used and no special software needs to be installed.

Hardcopy Cable Replacement Mode (HCRP) HCRP is another standard for printing over a Bluetoothwireless communications link. It provides the same functionality as the SPP, but gives much better status and control capabilities.

Basic Printing Profile (BPP) The BPP is designed for limited resource devices like cell phones and handhelds. These devices do not typically have adequate memory to store multiple drivers. The BPP addresses this problem by eliminating the need to load different drivers for different printers. The BPP defines a mandatory minimum image and document format, which is a standard way of handling both text and graphics. This common format allows any Bluetooth sending device to get legible output on any Bluetooth printer. The BPP in the WindConnect II currently supports printing to most HP and other PCL compatible printers.

Basic Imaging Profile (BIP) BIP enables Bluetooth devices such as cameras and camera-enabled handhelds and cell phones to negotiate the size and encoding of imaging data to be exchanged. To ensure interoperability, BIP requires that all Bluetooth imaging devices be capable of receiving JPEG thumbnail images and/or providing JPEG thumbnail versions of their stored images. The BIP in the WindConnect II currently supports printing to most HP and other PCL compatible printers.

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