Bluetooth to figure in French high-speed mobile data

Both French and German implementations of GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) wireless data are set to go live next year, and in the case of the French one at least, Bluetooth phones will be a part of the service. Germany's T-Mobil is carrying out trials of GPRS using Motorola equipment, and France Telecom has already completed trials with Motorola for its Itineris service. (Register factoid: France Telecom seems to have got its head together now, but when it first implemented Itineris it didn't data-enable it because, er, it didn't think anybody would want data) Having tested the system at CNET (Register factoid 2: CNET is France Telecom's R&D outfit, and not a little-known US Internet news service) FT has now gone on to filed trials in Lille, northern France. At the moment Internet access is being achieved via an infra-red connection, but FT anticipates being able to use Bluetooth next year, which means the handset companies must intend to have volume production of Bluetooth phones by then. ®