Virtually all makers of computer hardware and consumer electronics are beefing up their offerings of Bluetooth-enabled products.

At CeBIT, which began last week and continues this week, mobile phone leader Nokia introduced its newest Bluetooth handset, and Hewlett-Packard unveiled a set of computer accessories aimed at making several printer models Bluetooth compatible. One company, Anoto AB of Sweden, demonstrated a digital Bluetooth pen that can transmit handwritten text to a nearby computer or beam it as e-mail to the user's mobile phone. The challenge, however, is making sure all Bluetooth products can communicate with each other. That problem torpedoed last week's CeBIT test, when a Bluetooth card in one of the computer servers failed to communicate with one of the transmitting devices, Woessner said. Anoto's Bluetooth pen was not affected by the server problem, but it exemplifies the interconnectivity problem. The company says it will hit the stores in December for around $100 apiece. But besides needing special paper, the cigar-shaped pens are only compatible with Bluetooth devices made by mobile phone maker Ericsson. Anoto says that problem will be solved, but balked at providing details. "The demo version is only compatible with Ericsson, but the final version is a different story," Anoto vice president Micco Groenholm assured. To make matters worse, Bluetooth is also expensive. A Bluetooth card for a home computer costs up to $250, even though it may not be compatible with the gadgets people want to use. So far, consumer demand for Bluetooth has been anemic due to the technical problems and the high prices, said Andy Brown, an analyst with International Data Services, an industry research firm.