Mary Harboe
01.10.07

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a wireless technology that allows computers, phones and other devices to talk to each other over short distances (typically about 10 meters). Bluetooth uses radio waves (in the 2.4 Gigahertz range), and is designed to be a secure and inexpensive way of connecting and exchanging information between devices without wires.

Where did the term Bluetooth originate?
Bluetooth was originally developed by mobile phone company Ericsson in 1994. Looking for a unique name for the technology, they settled on "Bluetooth" after a tenth century viking king called Harald "Bluetooth" Blatand. During his reign, he united Denmark and Norway, and was well known for his ability to help people communicate. Presumably, Ericsson's hope was that Bluetooth technology could do the same.

 

Phone Headset:
 
Hands-free calling from your mobile phone is possible with the aid of Bluetooth. c
Combining a Bluetooth mobile phone with a headset means you can use your phone without holding it to your ear, and without all those messy wires.

Bluetooth printers are available.

Alternatively, you can buy a Bluetooth print adapter that lets you use Bluetooth with your existing printer. (For instance, there's the BlueWalker Bluetooth Mobile Printer Adapter) - With this printer adapter, you can enable wireless printing of data or photos from your Bluetooth-enabled desktop PC, Laptop, PDA and mobile phones. This printer adapter is designed to add more convenience and freedom to printing. It replaces the USB printer cable to enable wireless printing and has an additional USB port. It's easy-to-use and is able to activate wireless printing from up to 100 metres away. It's available for around £33 from

USB Bluetooth Adapters   Most PCs and laptops don't have built-in support for Bluetooth, but for around £15, you can add Bluetooth via a special USB Bluetooth adapter.

We recommend the Belkin USB Bluetooth adapter available for around £12 from amazon.co.uk. - This lets you create cable-free connections between your USB desktop PC and devices using Bluetooth. The Adapter is compatible with Bluetooth v1.2-certified devices and enables you to connect wirelessly to up to seven other devices such as printers, PDAs, and mobile phones simultaneously

GPS   Connect your PDA, laptop or mobile phone via Bluetooth to a wire-free GPS receiver - these get a fix on your location from orbiting navigation satellites and overlays your position onto a map and/or route planner.

Is Bluetooth the same as Wi-fi?
Bluetooth is not to be mistaken for wi-fi (wireless networking) - Bluetooth runs at a lower speed and power than wi-fi.   WiFi is a cordless version of an Ethernet connection whilst Bluetooth can be loosely related to a wireless version of a USB connection.

Are WiFi and Bluetooth compatible? Bluetooth and WiFi are both radio technologies, but they differ in the frequencies and protocols that they use. They don't interfere with each other, but the two don't talk to each other either - in other words you can't get a device with Bluetooth to communicate to a device that only supports WiFi.

Other uses for Bluetooth:

  1. Miniature hearing aids (remote control in your pocket)
  2. Heart monitor (Extract of data or adjust settings without external wires). (Medical use is a new and growing area of the use of Bluetooth)
  3. Computer can talk to your HiFi so that you can play the music on your Pc without a wired connection.
  4. Refrigerators will talk to your PC to tell you what you are running out of.
  5. Stereo headphones to listen to you HiFi without wires and without conflict with your neighbour.
  6. SatNav – working with a mobile phone a SatNav receiver the size of 2 inch  postage stamps will receive data from up to 32 satellites and communicate your exact position with your phone via Bluetooth
  7. Hands free consol for your car that talks via Bluetooth to your mobile phone and can replicate the display of your phone and answer calls.