Bluetooth support for Skype native in Vista?
I don’t remember seeing this in Windows XP and I’m too lazy to reboot into that partition today, but I caught this in Vista and wanted to share. As I was nosing around my Bluetooth device settings I saw the above dialog box showing that you can natively control Skype calls with Bluetooth headset. If I recall correctly we couldn’t do that in Windows XP with some third party software, but it’s been a while since I Skyped in XP and I could be wrong.
In any case, if you have a hands-free Bluetooth headset and use Skype, check the Audio tab in your Bluetooth Devices dialog in Vista to enable this function. I enabled it on my Q1P and made some test calls with Skype, but I had to manually set my Skype audio device to the Motorola HS820 for some reason. According to the Windows Help for this function, Skype should automatically recognize and route calls to the device so you may have better luck with your particular headset.
Funny, I cannot even get my headset to work with Microsoft’s bluetooth stack. Vista requires “device drivers” as soon as the headset is connected. As far as I know, the BT stack in Vista does not include “headset” and “hands free” profiles. Probably you have some 3rd party software installed.
I’m pretty certain that I have no 3rd party software installed (aside from the most up to date Bluetooth drivers) that would make my Bluetooth headset work with Vista. I’ve recently rebuilt this UMPC with Vista (about 3 weeks ago) and have kept it fairly light in software. What BT headset are you trying to pair in Vista? I believe that A2DP is not natively supported in Vista, but it should support HSP and HFP…I’ll double-check when time permits.
Kevin – it all depends on your Bluetooth stack. The Microsoft stack under XP did not include the profile for a headset, you had to have another stack. I’m not sure, but it sounds like what you’re seeing is MS included that headset profile in their Vista stack.
With my Q1 and Aista I know I installed the Widcomm BT stack, I had to to get it to work. I have the exact same functionality you are describing.
Unfortunately I think we should be saying how great the latest widcomm stack is.
Seems like you’ve installed the Broadcom (or previously Widcomm) Bluetooth Stack add-on for Windows Vista.
I did that the other day and that’s when I got the same option in the Bluetooth settings.
I haven’t tried it out though, but I tried to get A2DP — Bluetooth Stereo Headset — to work, but the only thing I got was a strange “incorrect parameter” error message…
Can someone elaborate on where these updated drivers come from. I have a Logitech BT headset and it comes with nothing at all. My BT USB adaptor only has drivers for XP and the support for it is really crappy (cheap taiwanese device).
If the Broadcom drivers are locked to the device, can somone recommend an adaptor that performs well for headset and all the useful profiles, and has good driver support?
Ta
Solo
You can try downloading the Broadcom Vista add-on from here:
ftp://ftp.work.acer-euro.com/notebook/ferrari_4000/vista/Drivers/Bluetooth%206.0.1.3600.zip
But, I believe that this is locked to the Bluetooth radio on the Acer Ferrari 4000 and will not work elsewhere. You can always try and see…
I followed the instructions found on the page linked below and I am up and running beautifully with my Bluespoon Spider headset on Vista…. great sound and functions with my Treo 700W to receive calls while listening to music on my Dell. Automatically mutes on incoming and reconnects when the call ends…. after weeks of searching, trial and error and the occasional fit, I AM ONCE AGAIN ENJOYING MY STEREO HEADSET. hope it works for you as well.
of course, try at your own
risk and good luck.
http://www.dev-hack.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1297