Emblaze, Tadlys selling joint bluetooth product to European cellular provider

Cellular video streaming pioneer Emblaze (LSE:BLZ) and Tadlys, of the Tadiran Communications group, are in the process of selling a joint wireless local area network product to a European cellular provider.

The firms launched the product, which expedites delivery of cellular services, at the 3GSM World Congress 2002 held in Cannes, France, on February 19 to February 22.

Alliances between Israeli firms were among the main messages to emerge from the congress. Local firms hope that such cooperation will enable them to better meet the end-to-end needs of cellular providers, and to sustain a consortium involving all the entities in the value chain.

Emblaze provides end-to-end solutions for delivering multimedia on cellular networks and data communications networks. Tadlys specializes in bluetooth technology. Tadlys deployed at the congress two LAN networks and demonstrated streaming of live video.

WLAN is among the main technologies rivaling bluetooth. But until recently, and unlike bluetooth, WLAN didn't support voice services, which still account for 90% of revenue of cellular providers worldwide.

The Tadlys system is mainly intended for "hot spots," where many cellular subscribers are crowded in a relatively small area. The subscribers connect to the wLAN via mobile computers, PDAs, cellular phones.

It is estimated that by the end of this year there will be some 21 million bluetooth cellular phones.

Tadlys is owned by Tadiran Communications (85%) and Formula Ventures.