We reported Tuesday that Apple had purchased Wi-Gear, a maker of Bluetooth headsets. Originated by 9to5Mac, the story began with a source, and was added to by two key features: Wi-Gear has ceased operations, and a cofounding engineer now lists himself as a Bluetooth engineer at Apple. According to an e-mail sent to Barron’s magazine from Wi-Gear CEO Mark Pundsack, the rumor is false.
Additionally, Mr. Pundsack told Macworld said that his company shut down not because it was bought by Apple, but because it ran out of money. So, while former cofounder Michael Kim may be at Apple working on Bluetooth devices for iOS, Wi-Gear’s technology is not.
If you are in the market for Bluetooth headset technology, however, Mr. Pundsack noted that, “Wi-Gear and its IP are still available for sale.”