A visit to Intel's wireless communication centre here in Stockholm today revealed that the designers have not quite got worldwide agreement on frequencies.

According to an Intel boffin at the site this morning, his company and the Bluetush SIG are currently conducting intense negotiations with the French government.

He said that the French military use the same wireless frequency as Bluetooth, and that he hoped the matter would be eventually resolved.

But if he thinks that the French will be cowed by the might of Chipzilla, he might have to think again. Remember Rainbow Warrior? And we don't want the French nuclear deterrent popping off in the South Pacific just because some techie wants his mobile phone to talk to his notebook PC, do we? ®