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What is Bluetooth?
Bluetooth technology seems to be more of a buzz word than a well understood, accepted technology. There are many of advertisements on TV and the Internet for mobile phones, PDAs and laptops that make use of this technology. But, what exactly is it?

A formal definition of Bluetooth is the following: "Bluetooth wireless technology is a worldwide specification for a small-form factor, low-cost radio solution that provides links between mobile computers, mobile phones, other portable handheld devices, and connectivity to the Internet."

Bluetooth enabled devices operate on 2.4 GHz radio signals. Due to the fact that this band seems to be getting a bit crowded resulting in interference, Bluetooth has taken its own steps to improve transmission quality. Version 1.1 of the Bluetooth standard greatly reduces interference issues and requires completely different hardware than the original 1.0C standard. As a result, there is no backward compatibility between the two standards whatsoever.

Bluetooth popularity is not as large as some people would have hoped due to the cost and the competition from other standards. However, there are many devices available for those who are interested. Bluetooth offers a good solution to many devices that might not have wireless connectivity without it.

Bluetooth Specifications
  • Maximum transfer rate: 723 kbps
  • Range: 20 – 100 meters (65 – 328 feet – depending on the class of the device)
  • Speed: a fraction of that offered by 802.11b or g wireless standards
Practical Applications

Although Bluetooth technology is very similar to 802.11, it is significantly slower and never intended to be a networking standard. However, it has many practical applications:
  • Laptops/Desktops: Many laptops are equipped with a Bluetooth adaptor that allows them to connect to any Bluetooth device. USB Bluetooth adaptors are available for laptops or desktops that don’t have an adaptor built in.
  • PDAs/Phones: Bluetooth enabled PDAs and mobile phones allow for wireless synchronization and data transfer.
  • Headphones: Headphones take advantage of Bluetooth technology for audio playback and mobile phone communication. A mobile headset with a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone allows for hands free as well as wire free communication.
  • Input Devices: Bluetooth mice and Bluetooth keyboards take advantage of Bluetooth technology to communicate with desktops or laptops eliminating wires. Their main advantage over standard RF wireless keyboards or mice is the range. They have a range of up to 30 feet compared to just up to 6 feet for the standard devices.
  • Printers: Bluetooth printer adaptors are used to share a printer on a typical network eliminating wires or special configurations. You can print to any compatible printer using a PC, laptop, PDA or mobile phone easily and from anywhere in the office.
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