The origin of the name Bluetooth is a bit unusual. In the late tenth-century, the Viking king of Denmark and Norway was Harald Blaatand (or Bluetooth). His claim to fame was unifying the warring tribes of Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Centuries later and in keeping with the spirit of unification, a prominent Swedish telecom company called Ericsson developed the Bluetooth technology in 1994 to unify conflicting mobile phone and computer technologies to enhance connectivity among mobile devices.

So what's Bluetooth? Technically, Bluetooth is a low-power-consumption wireless technology that enables users to connect to a variety of devices, such as digital cameras, notebook PCs, mobile devices, audio equipment and printers, without the need for cables. Connecting two or more devices creates a personal area network (PAN), also known as a piconet. Bluetooth leverages short-range wireless technology—generally within a 30-foot range—to create a PAN, making wireless communications fast and simple.

Wireless connectivity issues can arise between differing electronic devices all speaking different "languages," which can impact consumers who depend heavily on uninterrupted, seamless connections. Bluetooth enables you to conduct business in a cable-free, on-the-go manner, at any time and from anywhere.

Today, as the popularity and demand for mobile devices and cable-free connections continues to increase, the need to make all of these technologies communicate and work together is vitally important. As a result, Bluetooth's automatic and wireless capabilities satisfy many of our connectivity needs.

How can Bluetooth benefit my business?

Bluetooth supports and improves mobility, saving you time by enabling you to quickly create connections between devices. The following are some popular applications for Bluetooth technology:

• File transfers: You can exchange photos and documents between handheld devices, and between those devices and computers, over Bluetooth connections.
• Printing: A Bluetooth-enabled printer enables you to print documents or images directly from a notebook PC, camera phone or digital camera, without the need for a cable.
• Keyboards and mice: You can use a Bluetooth-enabled keyboard and mouse with your computer to eliminate a few cables.

• Wireless headsets: A wireless headset enables you to safely talk on the phone while driving, keeping both hands on the wheel. You can place and receive calls with the push of a button or using voice commands, depending on your headset and phone model.

Wireless headsets are also popular for hands-free phone conversations in and out of the office. For example, the convenience of a headset enables you to take notes or check information on your computer or handheld device during a phone conversation.

• Car kits: Several manufacturers offer hands-free car kits, which enable you to voice-operate your cell phone and talk on the phone through your car's audio system. Many car kits display caller IDs, pictures and other information on a screen mounted on the dashboard.

The use of wireless devices and their accessories may be prohibited or restricted in certain areas. Always obey the laws and regulations regarding the use of these products.

• Handheld navigation: Portable global positioning system (GPS) devices are available with Bluetooth built in, enabling you connect to a personal digital assistant (PDA), a Smartphone or notebook PC running navigation software.

• Wireless access points: With Bluetooth wireless access points you can use a notebook PC or PDA to access the internet and send and receive email. Some models include a universal serial bus (USB) port to enable printing to a USB-connected printer.

Comparing Bluetooth to other wireless technologies

Businesses can take advantage of various Bluetooth applications, and for good reason. Some of Bluetooth's main advantages are that it's:

• Automatic
• Inexpensive
• Wireless

But Bluetooth isn't the only wireless technology available—infrared (IR) and Wi-Fi technologies play a significant role also.

Understanding Bluetooth and infrared

IR refers to light waves of a lower frequency than the human eye can receive and interpret signals. You encounter infrared each time you use your television remote control, for example. Although IR wireless communications are inexpensive and easy for manufacturers to incorporate into devices, this technology has its downsides. For example:

• IR generally works only between two devices at a time—you can't simultaneously send information from one IR-enabled device to many IR-enabled devices.
• IR is a "line-of-sight" technology that cannot penetrate walls, requiring an open path between devices. For example, you have to point your remote control to your DVD player or your television for it to operate the device.

Bluetooth solves problems that are inherent with IR technology. By using Bluetooth, you can communicate with multiple devices that are within range, without being in a direct line of sight to operate.

Comparing Bluetooth and Wi-Fi

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are both wireless technologies that use the 2.45 gigahertz (GHz) radio frequency but serve different purposes in wireless networking. Wi-Fi has a stronger signal, covers greater distances and provides higher throughput. These enhanced capabilities make Wi-Fi an excellent complement to or replacement for wired local area networks (LANs). However, Wi-Fi also requires more expensive hardware and a more complicated setup configuration compared to Bluetooth, in addition to using more power.

Although Bluetooth and Wi-Fi operate on the same frequency range, they use different multiplexing schemes to avoid communication collisions.

Now that you understand common uses of Bluetooth technology and how it differs from IR and Wi-Fi, read on to learn about the evolution of Bluetooth's specification and features.