Bluetooth divorces operating system

New PCs are more likely to come bundled with Bluetooth peripherals thanks to the release of some new software.

Bluetooth keyboards and mice are usually sold separately from PCs because, without a tricky tweak to the Bios code used to boot the machine, they function only after the operating system loads the relevant code.

This means users need a spare wired mouse and keyboard to control the PC during boot-up or if the operating system code is corrupted in some way.

Bluetooth specialist Cambridge Silicon Radio has released software called Blueice which automates the Bios configuration and device setup of peripherals using its Bluecore4-Ext modules.

David McCall, vice-president of CSR's PC strategic business unit, said the software makes a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse as simple and straightforward to use as wired products.