Bluetooth is a standard for a small, low-cost, power efficient radio chip that can be used by computers, printers, mobile phones, and numerous other consumer electronics. This technology allows multiple devices to communicate with each other, or one device can control and manage several other devices.
How does it work?
Designed to replace cables, Bluetooth, named after the Viking King Harald Bluetooth who united Denmark, takes the information normally carried by a wire and transmits it at a special frequency to another Bluetooth device. Both the sending and receiving devices have what is called a Bluetooth receiver chip, which translates data into a wireless transmission and then back to normal again, depending on if it is sending or receiving data.
You can easily connect with your friends’ and colleagues’ Bluetooth devices to share information, pictures, and Internet access. Bluetooth also features three types of built-in security to prevent unwanted connections with your equipment:
Pairing – This function enables Bluetooth devices to remain permanently linked to each other. Even if a “paired” Bluetooth device is turned off, or just out of range, it will be visible to the Bluetooth devices it has been paired with when it is powered on again or comes within range.
Encryption – Bluetooth features 128-bit security encryption to make sure that no other devices can receive transmissions that you send.
Pass Key – This is a unique, case-sensitive password that is set by the user and is required in order to access and communicate with the Bluetooth device. The Pass Key is continually incorporated into the 128-bit Encryption; also it reinforces pairing by only allowing devices to pair if the password matches.
As many as eight Bluetooth devices can be connected at once. For example, you can have a couple of Bluetooth-enabled computers, a mobile phone, a video camera, a printer, a PDA, and a Bluetooth access point all working together to share an Internet connection, synchronize address books and calendars, share a printer, and perform various other functions. Bluetooth offers a very affordable, high-speed, secure, simple and dependable way to communicate and share data wirelessly.
Connecting with Bluetooth
Bluetooth was designed for consumers and small office/home office users as an easy-to-use, inexpensive way to transmit data without wires. Data is transferred faster than most DSL or Cable Modem connections, and the most powerful Bluetooth devices can connect up to 330 feet (100 meters) away.
Bluetooth uses minimal electricity to extend the life of battery-powered devices
Built-in encryption and authentication assure safe, secure wireless communication
Bluetooth is perfectly suited for computers, mice, phones, pens, laptops, PDAs, cameras and any small battery-powered device
How far away does Bluetooth work?
Class 1 Bluetooth devices can transmit and receive data up to 330ft (100m).
Class 2 Bluetooth devices can transmit and receive data up to 66ft (20m).
Class 3 Bluetooth devices can transmit and receive data up to 33ft (10m).
What can Bluetooth do for you?
Stay connected
Connect to your mobile phone to surf the web or send e-mails from your computer or PDA
Share a dial-up or broadband Internet connection among computers without the need for a router or networking
Use the address book on your PDA to dial phone numbers on your cell phone
Stay updated
Use your PDA to discreetly share thoughts and ideas during meetings with other attendees using Bluetooth enabled PDAs
Transfer pictures, files, e-mails, and other data between Bluetooth devices
Print files, documents and pictures from your computer or PDA
Hot Sync a PDA or mobile phone with your computer without plugging in wires
Stay organized
Reduce the messy clutter of wires on your desk
Eliminate the concern of remembering to pack the right wires when traveling
Synchronize data quickly and easily between PDAs, mobile phones, and computers
Software and hardware requirements
To Bluetooth-enable a computer, the following are required:
* One Bluetooth™ USB Adapter
* One available USB port
* One CD-ROM Drive
* For PC: Windows XP with Service Pack 2
* For Mac: Mac OS X (10.1.5) or better
To Bluetooth-enable a PDA, the following are required:
* One Bluetooth CF(CompactFlash) card
* Pocket PC with CF Reader
* Windows CE for Pocket PC