Blue tooth has been regarded as a new wave in the IT sector from the day of its origin.

Blue
tooth is continuing its success story. Toshiba introduced blue tooth in September 2000 to
consumers for $ 199. The new technology is supported by SIG (Special Interest Group).

SIG founded in 1998 consists of 2000 members who have access to the Blue tooth
specifications (information needed to make a blue tooth product). The SIG works to
promote the Blue tooth technology and consists of members like IBM, Intel, Microsoft,
and Nokia. The technology represents an opportunity for the industry to deliver wireless
solutions that are ubiquitous across a broad range of devices.

What is Bluetooth ?
Bluetooth is a high-speed, low-power microwave wireless link technology, designed
to connect phones, laptops, PDAs and other portable equipment together with little
or no work by the user.

Bluetooth is the name for a short-range radio frequency (RF) technology that
operates at 2.4 GHz and is capable of transmitting voice and data. The effective
range of Bluetooth devices is 32 feet (10 meters). Bluetooth transfers data at the
rate of 1 Mbps, which is from three to eight times the average speed of parallel and
serial ports, respectively. It is also known as the IEEE 802.15 standards. It was
invented to get rid of wires. Bluetooth is more suited for connecting two point-to-
point devices, whereas Wi-Fi is an IEEE standard intended for networking.

Why is the technology called Bluetooth

The heart of the Bluetooth brand identity is the name, which refers to the Danish
king Harald "Bluetooth" Blaatand who unified Denmark and Norway. In the beginning
of the Bluetooth wireless technology era, Bluetooth was aimed at unifying the
telecom and computing industries.

Bluetooth can be used to wirelessly synchronize and transfer data among devices.
Bluetooth can be thought of as a cable replacement technology. Typical uses include
automatically synchronizing contact and calendar information among desktop,
notebook and palmtop computers without connecting cables. Bluetooth can also be
used to access a network or the Internet with a notebook computer by connecting
wirelessly to a cellular phone.
Types of Bluetooth Devices
Bluetooth Dongle
Bluetooth Dongle : Installing a Bluetooth dongle is easy; simply insert the CD that
came with it, follow the on screen prompts and then plug the dongle into a free USB
port. If you had a Bluetooth compatible laptop you could just plug the dongle into an
internet enabled personal computer and check your e-mail, download Windows
updates, or transfer files. On the same lines you could also synchronize your PDA
with your personal computer and download the latest appointments, e-mails or send
text messages.

Bluetooth Headset
Bluetooth Headset : Bluetooth headsets are mainly used with compatible cell phones,
place the headset on your ear and roam freely while talking to colleagues, friends
and family. You could also connect to a dongle on a personal computer and use it for
voice conferencing for example. A number of products exist on the market today,
which all offer good sound quality and have a similar variety of features. Prices vary
depending on manufacturer but usually you can get a decent one for around $75 to
$150.

Other Examples
Technical Features
It comprises of a base band processor, a radio and an antenna. The base-band
processor converts the data into signals, which radios can decipher. The antenna of
another blue tooth device, within at least 30 feet distance, receives a transmitted
signal in the air. The signals are processed in the reverse order.

Bluetooth technology provides a 10-meter personal bubble that supports

simultaneous transmission of both voice and data for multiple devices. Up to 8 data
devices can be connected in a piconet, and up to 10 piconets can exist within the 10-
meter bubble. Each piconet supports up to3 simultaneous full duplex voice devices
(CVSD).The gross data rate is 1Mb/s, but the actual data rates are 432Kbps for full
duplex transmission, 721/56Kbps for asymmetric transmission, and 384 Kbps for
TMS2000 transmission. A Time-Division Duplex scheme is used for full-duplex
transmission.

Blue tooth specification is a de facto standard, which contains the information

needed to ensure that the devices supporting the Blue tooth wireless technology can
communicate with each other worldwide. It uses a frequency hopping spread
spectrum technique (FHSS) - which is one of two basic modulation techniques used
in spread spectrum signal transmission. Frequencies are switched repeatedly during
radio transmission to help reduce unlawful access or other means of
telecommunications to cross paths and cause interruption. It also makes Bluetooth
communication more robust and secure. Interference from other devices will not
cause the transmission to stop, but the speed to be reduced.
Connective convenience
Unlike infra-red, Bluetooth does not require line-of-sight positioning of connected
units. The technology uses modifications of existing wireless LAN techniques but is
most notable for its small size and low cost. The current prototype circuits are
contained on a circuit board 0.9cm square, with a much smaller single chip version in
development. The cost of the device is expected to fall very fast, from $20 initially to
$5 in a year or two. . They can establish a 1 megabit/s link (up to 2 Mbps in the
second generation of the technology) with security and error correction, to use as
required. The protocols will handle both voice and data, with very flexible network
topography.

This technology achieves its goal by embedding tiny, inexpensive, short-range

transceivers into the electronic devices that are available today. The radio operates
on the globally-available unlicensed radio band, 2.45 GHz (meaning there will be no
hindrance for international travelers using Bluetooth-enabled equipment.), and
supports data speeds of up to 721 Kbps, as well as three voice channels. The
Bluetooth modules can be either built into electronic devices or used as an adaptor.
For instance in a PC they can be built in as a PC card or externally attached via the
USB port.
Each device has a unique 48-bit address from the IEEE 802 standard. Connections
can be point-to-point or multipoint. Bluetooth devices are protected from radio
interference by changing their frequencies arbitrarily upto a maximum of 1600 times
a second, a technique known as frequency hopping. They also use three different but
complimentary error correction schemes. Built-in encryption and verification is
provided.

Moreover, Bluetooth devices won't drain precious battery life. The Bluetooth
specification targets power consumption of the device from a "hold" mode consuming
30 micro amps to the active transmitting range of 8-30 milliamps (or less than
1/10th of a watt). The radio chip consumers only 0.3mA in standby mode, which is
less than 3 % of the power used by a standard mobile phone. The chips also have
excellent power-saving features, as they will automatically shift to a low-power mode
as soon as traffic volume lessens or stops.

Bluetooth radio technology provides a universal bridge to existing data networks, a

peripheral interface, and a mechanism to form small private ad hoc groupings of
connected devices away from fixed network infrastructures. Designed to operate in a
noisy radio frequency environment, the Bluetooth radio uses a fast acknowledgment
and frequency hopping scheme to make the link robust. Bluetooth radio modules
avoid interference from other signals by hopping to a new frequency after
transmitting or receiving a packet. Compared with other systems operating in the
same frequency band, the Bluetooth radio typically hops faster and uses shorter
packets. This makes the Bluetooth radio more robust than other systems. Short
packages and fast hopping also limit the impact of domestic and professional
microwave ovens. Use of Forward Error Correction (FEC) limits the impact of random
noise on long-distance links. The encoding is optimized for an uncoordinated
environment.

Bluetooth guarantees security at the bit level. Authentication is controlled by the

user by using a 128 bit key. Radio signals can be coded with 8 bits or anything upto
128 bits. The Bluetooth radio transmissions will conform to the safety standards
required by the countries where the technology will be used with respect to the
affects of radio transmissions on the human body. Emissions from Bluetooth enabled
devices will be no greater than emissions from industry-standard cordless phones.
The Bluetooth module will not interfere or cause harm to public or private
telecommunications network.
The Bluetooth baseband protocol is a combination of circuit and packet switching.
Slots can be reserved for synchronous packets. Each packet is transmitted in a
different hop frequency. A packet nominally covers a single slot, but can be extended
to cover up to five slots. Bluetooth can support an asynchronous data channel, up to
three simultaneous synchronous voice channels, or a channel, which simultaneously
supports asynchronous data and synchronous voice. It is thus possible to transfer
the date asynchronously whilst at the same time talking synchronously at the same
time. Each voice channel supports 64 kb/s synchronous (voice) link. The
asynchronous channel can support an asymmetric link of maximally 721 kb/s in
either direction while permitting 57.6 kb/s in the return direction, or a 432.6 kb/s
symmetric link.
Bluetooth Vs 802.11b Wireless LANs
This article discusses about the differences between Bluetooth and 802.11b Wireless
LANs, Co-existence of Bluetooth & Wi-Fi and Advantages & Disadvantages.
1) Bluetooth has lower distance range (less than 30 feet) than 802.11b (up to 200
feet). Therefore, you would need many more access points to cover the same area of
an office. Simple mathematics will show that you may need as many as 20-50 times
the number of access points

2) Bluetooth has generally lower speed than that of 802.11b wireless LANs.

3) Bluetooth components (chips and radios) and device adapters are cheaper than
wireless LAN components and adapters.

4) Bluetooth chips have lower power consumption - less drain on battery.

5) Bluetooth is more appropriate and affordable technology for communication

between smart phones and other accessories or between PDAs and information
kiosks.

6) Bluetooth is younger technology, and therefore is less mature. However, it has a

huge following. Purely because of the potential and future expectation built by the
Bluetooth vendors, there were over 2000 vendors signed up as members of
Bluetooth forum. There is a good developers following as well. Wireless LAN industry
is smaller but more mature.

7) It is not fair to run comparisons between Bluetooth and WLAN regarding the
number of chips being shipped or expected to be shipped for either technology.
Because of its price and the type of products where it is going into, Bluetooth will
soon surpass 802.11 chip shipments but dollar volume might still be smaller for
some time. Ultimately, Bluetooth dollar volume is expected to catch up.

8) Bluetooth will go beyond cable replacement in short distances between handheld

devices and handheld devices and a kiosk or local server. It will meet the needs of
connecting devices at the edge node of a network.

9) Bluetooth and wireless LANs address different wireless connectivity requirements.

Therefore, the two technologies need not and should not compete with each other. If
Bluetooth community would not get offended, 802.11b is the big brother and
Bluetooth is the younger brother.

IEEE 802.11b &

Bluetooth
802.11a
 Time Table Standard in 1998, Standard in 2000,
Products in 2000 products in 2001 and 2002
Frequency Band and IEEE 802.11b - 2.4 GHz 2.4 GHz
bandwidth IEEE 802.11a - 5GHHz
IEEE 802.11g - 2.4
Speed 11 Mbps- 54 Mbps 1-2 Mbps (Effective speed
(Effective speed - half of - less than 50% rated
rated speed) speed)
Modulation Technique Spread Spectrum
OFDM
Distance Coverage Up to 300 feet - 802.11b
Up to 30 feet now - efforts
Up to 60 ft - 802.11a to increase coverage and
speed
Number of access points every 200 feet - 802.11b Every 30 feet - 25 to 30
required Every 50 feet - 802.11a times number of Bluetooth
access points;
Maturity More matured products Less matured but
progressing fast
Market Penetration Quite widespread Just starting in 2002
Interference with other 2.4 GHz band is polluted 2.4 GHz band is polluted -
devices - significant interference significant interference
here here
Interoperability Current problems Problems now but expect
expected to be resolved resolution soon
in future
Cost Much more expensive Cost incremental in PDAs
than Bluetooth and phones - $50;
However Bluetooth chips
@ <$5 now
Vendors Proxim, 3COM, Symbol, Mostly chip vendors
Cisco supplying to device
manufacturers.

An 802.11b wireless network adapter can operate on two modes, Ad-Hoc or Infrastructure. In
infrastructure mode all your traffic passes through a wireless access point and can be thought
of as a wired network without cables. This is commonly setup to allow resources such as
printers and files to be shared. The image below demonstrates such a setup.

Sponsored Links

Wireless Tutorials
• A Basic Understanding Of VOIP
 • Wi-Fi Is Out There and Spreading Fast
• Using a Bluetooth Headset with your PC
• The Essentials of Wireless Security
• Optical Wireless Security
• Bluetooth Technology Models and Future
• Bluetooth Vs 802.11b Wireless LANs
• How Bluetooth Technology works?
• What is Bluetooth Technology
Home Tutorials Wireless

Bluetooth Vs 802.11b Wireless LANs

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Table of Contents
Bluetooth Vs 802.11b Wireless LANs
Bluetooth Vs 802.11b Wireless LANs - Page 2
Bluetooth Vs 802.11b Wireless LANs
Page 1 of 2

This article discusses about the differences between Bluetooth and 802.11b Wireless
LANs, Co-existence of Bluetooth & Wi-Fi and Advantages & Disadvantages.

Sponsored Links

1) Bluetooth has lower distance range (less than 30 feet) than 802.11b (up to 200 feet).
Therefore, you would need many more access points to cover the same area of an office.
Simple mathematics will show that you may need as many as 20-50 times the number of
access points

2) Bluetooth has generally lower speed than that of 802.11b wireless LANs.

3) Bluetooth components (chips and radios) and device adapters are cheaper than wireless
LAN components and adapters.

4) Bluetooth chips have lower power consumption - less drain on battery.

5) Bluetooth is more appropriate and affordable technology for communication between

smart phones and other accessories or between PDAs and information kiosks.
6) Bluetooth is younger technology, and therefore is less mature. However, it has a huge
following. Purely because of the potential and future expectation built by the Bluetooth
vendors, there were over 2000 vendors signed up as members of Bluetooth forum. There
is a good developers following as well. Wireless LAN industry is smaller but more
mature.

7) It is not fair to run comparisons between Bluetooth and WLAN regarding the number
of chips being shipped or expected to be shipped for either technology. Because of its
price and the type of products where it is going into, Bluetooth will soon surpass 802.11
chip shipments but dollar volume might still be smaller for some time. Ultimately,
Bluetooth dollar volume is expected to catch up.

8) Bluetooth will go beyond cable replacement in short distances between handheld

devices and handheld devices and a kiosk or local server. It will meet the needs of
connecting devices at the edge node of a network.

9) Bluetooth and wireless LANs address different wireless connectivity requirements.

Therefore, the two technologies need not and should not compete with each other. If
Bluetooth community would not get offended, 802.11b is the big brother and Bluetooth is
the younger brother.

IEEE 802.11b &

Bluetooth
802.11a
Time Table Standard in 1998, Standard in 2000,
Products in 2000 products in 2001 and 2002
Frequency Band and IEEE 802.11b - 2.4 GHz 2.4 GHz
bandwidth IEEE 802.11a - 5GHHz
IEEE 802.11g - 2.4
Speed 11 Mbps- 54 Mbps 1-2 Mbps (Effective speed
(Effective speed - half of - less than 50% rated
rated speed) speed)
Modulation Technique Spread Spectrum
OFDM
Distance Coverage Up to 300 feet - 802.11bUp to 30 feet now - efforts
Up to 60 ft - 802.11a to increase coverage and
speed
Number of access points every 200 feet - 802.11b Every 30 feet - 25 to 30
required Every 50 feet - 802.11a times number of Bluetooth
access points;
Maturity More matured products Less matured but
progressing fast
Market Penetration Quite widespread Just starting in 2002
Interference with other 2.4 GHz band is polluted 2.4 GHz band is polluted -
devices - significant interference significant interference
here here
Interoperability Current problems Problems now but expect
 expected to be resolved resolution soon
in future
Cost Much more expensive Cost incremental in PDAs
than Bluetooth and phones - $50;
However Bluetooth chips
@ <$5 now
Vendors Proxim, 3COM, Symbol, Mostly chip vendors
Cisco supplying to device
manufacturers.

An 802.11b wireless network adapter can operate on two modes, Ad-Hoc or Infrastructure. In
infrastructure mode all your traffic passes through a wireless access point and can be thought
of as a wired network without cables. This is commonly setup to allow resources such as
printers and files to be shared. The image below demonstrates such a setup.

Sponsored Links

In Ad-Hoc mode, the computers or mobile devices talk to each other directly and do not needs
an access point. This type of structure can support up to 8 devices connected to each other
and is useful when we want to setup a wireless connection quickly or when we have a few
computers in our network. The image below demonstrates a typical ad-hoc network.

Bluetooth Technology Models and Future

Bluetooth Technology Models & Applications
HomeRF like Bluetooth is a specification for connectivity and mobility in a home-like
environment. HomeRF Working Group has developed a specification for wireless
communications in the home called the Shared Wireless Access Protocol (SWAP).

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other aviation regulatory bodies
worldwide are currently reviewing the use of Bluetooth products on private and
commercial aircraft. In the U.S. the FAA is the governing body to grant approval for
Bluetooth product use on aircraft; therefore, we must defer to their impending
ruling.

Refrigerator communicating with the Bluetooth-enabled computer, informing it that

food supply is low, and to inform the retailer over the internet.

Printers, PDA's, desktop computers, fax machines, keyboards, joysticks and virtually
any other digital device can be part of the Bluetooth system. But beyond un-
tethering devices by replacing the cables, Bluetooth radio technology provides a
universal bridge to existing data networks, a peripheral interface, and a mechanism
to form small private ad hoc groupings of connected devices away from fixed
network infrastructures. This is called Personal Area Networking (PAN).

Automatic background synchronization keeps one up-to-date - automatic

synchronization of one’s desktop, portable PC, notebook (PC-PDA and PC-HPC) and
mobile phone is made easier with Bluetooth. For instance, as soon as one enter your
office the address list and calendar in one’s notebook will automatically be updated
to agree with that in one’s desktop, or vice versa.

Send instant photos and video clips from any location - wirelessly connect the
camera to a Portable PC. Add comments and send them instantly to a receiver
anywhere in the world.

Connect all participants for instant data exchange - in meetings and conferences,
one can share information instantly with all participants, and without any wired
connections. One can also cordlessly run and control, for instance, a projector.

It helps to interact with automobiles. So that when we are within range of the
automobile, it would automatically adjust mirrors, move the seats to a preset
position that is correct for us, unlock the car, and turn on interior lighting. No more
locking or unlocking the car door. No more fussing to adjust the mirrors or seats to
our preferences.

One can check email while portable PC is still in briefcase. When one’s portable PC
receives e-mail, he gets an alert on his mobile phone. He can also browse all
incoming e-mails and read those he selected in the mobile phone's display.

It supports generic object exchange (OBEX). This profile defines procedures used by
applications performing object exchanges. It defines these processes for transactions
such as file transfers, object pushes and pulls, and synchronization.

And the list goes on.

Bluetooth in Future
Bluetooth is a continually expanding technology. At this time, we anticipate the
Bluetooth SIG to evolve the Bluetooth technology to provide greater bandwidth and
distances, thus increasing the potential platforms and applications used in the
emerging personal area networking marketplace. There are plans to add many new
applications profiles. With over 1800 companies working on Bluetooth, the future
could not be brighter. With a strong special interest group behind Bluetooth, the
standardization of the application profiles is almost assured.

According to market researchers, Cahners In-Stat Group, it is anticipated that as

many as 670 million products will have Bluetooth built-in by the year 2005. To be
honest it's going to be forced down the consumers necks, whether they want it or
not, as too many companies have invested in it.

Global technology leaders Ericsson, Nokia, IBM, Intel and Toshiba founded the
Bluetooth SIG in 1998. These companies are now supported by over 1,000 other
organizations with a wide range of expertise, including Widcomm, Inc.

Having understood the long standing success of Blue Tooth Technology, it is upto us
to make a decision about creating a phenomenal success in our software business
ventures.

I hope you liked my series of articles on Bluetooth technolgy. In the next article we
will learn about "How the Bluetooth technology works" . I hope to come back
with more articles like this.
Using a Bluetooth Headset with your PC
Using a Bluetooth Headset with your PC by Nathan Smith: If you use your computer for
Voice over IP (VoIP) applications, chances are that at some time you’ve experienced
frustration with the cords associated with traditional PC headsets. Imagine being able to roam
throughout your home whilst talking to people around the world using a PC headset
unencumbered by the constraints of wires. Whether you use a headset for PC to Phone
conversations, instant messaging, gaming or video-conferencing, a Bluetooth solution may be
just the ticket for your wireless cravings.

Bluetooth
For those of you not familiar with the term, Bluetooth refers to a wireless protocol
(or set of rules) designed for short range electronic applications (usually less than 30
feet in distance). Although the technology has been around for several years,
Bluetooth support for PC users has been limited due to hardware manufacturers
focusing on the more traditional 802.11 wireless network protocols (wifi). In reality,
Bluetooth and wifi achieve different purposes and each has its pros and cons.

Cellular Telephone Bluetooth Headsets

The cellular telephone community has long embraced Bluetooth technology,
developing and refining numerous wireless devices. One of the more popular
Bluetooth applications for cellular telephones has been cordless headsets which
enable users to leave their telephone in their bag or pocket while still being able to
make and receive calls. Bluetooth headsets are generally very lightweight, worn over
one ear and achieve talk times from 1-4 hours before needing a recharge.

Bluetooth PC Headset?
So if cellular telephone users have warmly embraced Bluetooth headsets, why not
the PC community? At the time of writing, this author knows of no PC hardware
manufacturer who has designed a Bluetooth Headset primarily for use with a PC.
However, there is nothing to prevent a PC user from using a cellular phone Bluetooth
Headset with their PC. Keep in mind though, these headsets were originally
envisioned for cellular phone use and may need a bit of ‘tweaking’ before they’ll
perform as well as ‘corded’ headsets on your computer.

USB Bluetooth Adapter

Unless you own a relatively expensive notebook PC, odds are that your computer
doesn’t natively support the Bluetooth protocol. If this is the case, you’ll need an
‘Adapter’ or ‘Dongle’ in order to make your computer ‘Bluetooth enabled’. Bluetooth
adapters are generally very small (a few inches long) and insert into a vacant USB
port on your computer. When purchasing an adapter it’s critical that you buy one
that supports the ‘headset protocol’. The headset protocol is merely a set of rules
which enables your Bluetooth adapter to communicate with and make use of
Bluetooth headsets in its vicinity. If your adapter does not support the headset
protocol, no amount of ‘tweaking’ will get your headset working with your PC.
Adapters generally run between $20 - $80 USD and can be purchased at most PC
retailers.

Buying a Bluetooth Headset

Bluetooth headsets for cellular phones are generally very expensive when compared
with conventional ‘corded’ PC headsets. Depending on where you buy your headset,
you could spend anywhere from $20 to $200+ USD. If you’re looking for a relatively
inexpensive headset that’ll simply enable you to make wireless VoIP calls using your
PC, I recommend looking on Ebay. Although prices vary considerably on Ebay
between merchants for similar products, overall they are considerably less expensive
than purchasing the same headset from a telephone store. A word of caution about
Ebay though; ensure that you read the fine print associated with shipping costs.
Some Ebay merchants advertise Bluetooth Headsets for $5 USD however the real
cost quickly rises to $35+ when you account for their often exorbitant shipping
charges.

‘Pairing’ the Headset with your PC

Once your computer is ‘Bluetooth enabled’ and you’ve obtained a Bluetooth headset,
you’ll need to ‘pair’ the headset with your computer in order to use it for VoIP
applications. This is usually just a matter of setting your headset in ‘discovery mode’
and allowing your PC to ‘search’ or ‘discover’ Bluetooth devices. The steps needed to
enable discovery mode on your headset and adapter will vary between devices and
should be clearly explained in the documentation accompanying your devices.
 Using a Bluetooth Headset with your PC
Using a Bluetooth Headset with your PC by Nathan Smith: If you use your computer for
Voice over IP (VoIP) applications, chances are that at some time you’ve experienced
frustration with the cords associated with traditional PC headsets. Imagine being able to roam
throughout your home whilst talking to people around the world using a PC headset
unencumbered by the constraints of wires. Whether you use a headset for PC to Phone
conversations, instant messaging, gaming or video-conferencing, a Bluetooth solution may be
just the ticket for your wireless cravings.
Bluetooth
For those of you not familiar with the term, Bluetooth refers to a wireless protocol
(or set of rules) designed for short range electronic applications (usually less than 30
feet in distance). Although the technology has been around for several years,
Bluetooth support for PC users has been limited due to hardware manufacturers
focusing on the more traditional 802.11 wireless network protocols (wifi). In reality,
Bluetooth and wifi achieve different purposes and each has its pros and cons.

Cellular Telephone Bluetooth Headsets

The cellular telephone community has long embraced Bluetooth technology,
developing and refining numerous wireless devices. One of the more popular
Bluetooth applications for cellular telephones has been cordless headsets which
enable users to leave their telephone in their bag or pocket while still being able to
make and receive calls. Bluetooth headsets are generally very lightweight, worn over
one ear and achieve talk times from 1-4 hours before needing a recharge.

Bluetooth PC Headset?
So if cellular telephone users have warmly embraced Bluetooth headsets, why not
the PC community? At the time of writing, this author knows of no PC hardware
manufacturer who has designed a Bluetooth Headset primarily for use with a PC.
However, there is nothing to prevent a PC user from using a cellular phone Bluetooth
Headset with their PC. Keep in mind though, these headsets were originally
envisioned for cellular phone use and may need a bit of ‘tweaking’ before they’ll
perform as well as ‘corded’ headsets on your computer.

USB Bluetooth Adapter

Unless you own a relatively expensive notebook PC, odds are that your computer
doesn’t natively support the Bluetooth protocol. If this is the case, you’ll need an
‘Adapter’ or ‘Dongle’ in order to make your computer ‘Bluetooth enabled’. Bluetooth
adapters are generally very small (a few inches long) and insert into a vacant USB
port on your computer. When purchasing an adapter it’s critical that you buy one
that supports the ‘headset protocol’. The headset protocol is merely a set of rules
which enables your Bluetooth adapter to communicate with and make use of
Bluetooth headsets in its vicinity. If your adapter does not support the headset
protocol, no amount of ‘tweaking’ will get your headset working with your PC.
Adapters generally run between $20 - $80 USD and can be purchased at most PC
retailers.

Buying a Bluetooth Headset

Bluetooth headsets for cellular phones are generally very expensive when compared
with conventional ‘corded’ PC headsets. Depending on where you buy your headset,
you could spend anywhere from $20 to $200+ USD. If you’re looking for a relatively
inexpensive headset that’ll simply enable you to make wireless VoIP calls using your
PC, I recommend looking on Ebay. Although prices vary considerably on Ebay
between merchants for similar products, overall they are considerably less expensive
than purchasing the same headset from a telephone store. A word of caution about
Ebay though; ensure that you read the fine print associated with shipping costs.
Some Ebay merchants advertise Bluetooth Headsets for $5 USD however the real
cost quickly rises to $35+ when you account for their often exorbitant shipping
charges.

‘Pairing’ the Headset with your PC

Once your computer is ‘Bluetooth enabled’ and you’ve obtained a Bluetooth headset,
you’ll need to ‘pair’ the headset with your computer in order to use it for VoIP
applications. This is usually just a matter of setting your headset in ‘discovery mode’
and allowing your PC to ‘search’ or ‘discover’ Bluetooth devices. The steps needed to
enable discovery mode on your headset and adapter will vary between devices and
should be clearly explained in the documentation accompanying your devices.

Adjusting your Audio Settings

Depending on your hardware and operating system, you may need to make adjustments
to your audio settings after the headset is ‘paired’ with your PC. In the Windows
operating system, this will involve accessing ‘Audio Properties’ through the ‘Control
Panel’ and setting the audio and voice devices to your newly paired Bluetooth headset.
Again, adjusting these settings should be covered in the documentation accompanying
both your headset and Bluetooth adapter.

Once you’re up and running, you’ll wonder why you didn’t adopt this wireless headset
solution sooner. The freedom to wander away from your computer whilst maintaining
voice over Internet conversations is something you’ll come to appreciate and love.

What is Bluetooth ?
Bluetooth is a wireless technology that enables any electrical device to wirelessly communicate in the 2.5
GHz ISM (license free) frequency band. It allows devices such as mobile phones, headsets, PDA's and
portable computers to communicate and send data to each other without the need for wires or cables to link
to devices together. It has been specifically designed as a low cost, low power, radio technology, which is
particularly suited to the short range Personal Area Network (PAN) application. (It is the design focus on
low cost, low size and low power which distinguishes it from the IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN technology).

The Main Features of Bluetooth:

- Operates in the 2.4GHz frequency band without a license for wireless communication.
- Real-time data transfer usually possible between 10-100m.
- Close proximity not required as with infrared data (IrDA) communication devices as Bluetooth doesn't
suffer from interference from obstacles such as walls.
- Supports both point-to-point wireless connections without cables between mobile phones and personal
computers, as well as point-to-multipoint connections to anable ad hoc local wireless networks.

When and How was it Conceived ?

Bluetooth was originally conceived by Ericsson in 1994, when they began a study to examine alternatives
to cables that linked mobile phone accessories. Ericsson already had a strong capability in short range
wireless, having been a key pioneer of the European DECT cordless telecommunications standard, which
had been largely based upon their earlier proprietary DCT900 technology. Out of their study was born the
specification for Bluetooth wireless.

Where did the Name Come From ?

Bluetooth was named after Harald Blatand (or Bluetooth), a tenth century Danish Viking king who had
united and controlled large parts of Scandinavia which are today Denmark and Norway. The name was
chosen to highlight the potential of the technology to unify the telecommunications and computing
industries - although it was chosen as an internal codename, and it was never at the time expected to
survive as the name used in the commercial arena - but that is another story...

What is the SIG (Special Interest group) ?

In February 1998, the Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group) was founded by a small core of major
companies - IBM, Intel, Nokia, Toshiba and Ericsson - to work together to develop the technology and to
subsequently promote its widespread commercial acceptance.

Six months later the core Promoter Members announced publicly the global SIG and invited other
companies to join, with free access to the technology as Bluetooth adopters in return for commitment to
support the Bluetooth specification. Adoption was rapid and 1998-1999 saw a boom in the market for
Bluetooth conference organisers, and vast amounts of hype regarding the potential of the technology.

In December 1999 it was announced that four more major companies had joined the SIG as Promoter
Members, viz. Microsoft, Agere Systems (then Lucent), 3Com and Motorola.

SIG Membership ?
Since its original foundation, the Bluetooth SIG has transitioned into a not-for-profit trade association,
Bluetooth SIG, Inc. Membership is open to all companies wishing to develop, market and promote
Bluetooth products at two levels - Associate and Adopter Members.

Associate Members pay an annual membership charge of US$ 7k (companies with annual revenues < US$
100M, or US$ 40k for larger companies. Asociate members may actively participate in the Working
Groups and Expert groups that help shape and define the Bluetooth technology specifications. Adopter
Membership does not carry this privilege, but is free of charge. Details of membership may be found on the
SIG website membership area.

What about the various Specifications v1.0, v1.1 ?

Copies of the full technical specifications are still only available to SIG members - one of the benefits of
membership - however, a great deal of the information is by now in the public domain. more information
on the technical specifics may be found on The Wireless Directory 's Technology Page.

Products ?
Bluetooth technology is essentially an "enabling technology" - that is it is designed to be incorporated in a
very wide range of products, to allow them to intercommunicate, rather than being a product in its own
right. Having said that, some early products include things like Compact Flash of Dongle devices to add
Bluetooth functionality into existing legacy products, such as laptops and PDAs. The Wireless Directory
provides an on-line guide to the wide range of products available - see our Products Index.

There are also a wide range of of Bluetooth technology companies marketing modules, software,
subsystems, chips, IP, etc - the things that go into creating a Bluetooth-enabled product - details of these
types of products may be found in our Create Product Index.

Which Companies are in the Bluetooth Market ?

The answer to this is "a large number !" - but to be more precise you may wish to check out the Company
Directory, which lists those that The Wireless Directory is aware of. We try to keep tabs on all the players
and maintain a comprehensive directory of their current products, but in such a fast moving industry we're
always running to to stay current. So if your company is in this market space, but not yet listed, then please
let us know so that we can add your details - this is a free service, provided for the industry.

Where to From Here ?

The Wireless Directory is designed to provide the wireless professional (technologists and commercial
staff) with a powerful and comprehensive resource to assist in keeping up to date with industry
developments, in terms of new products, components, learning resources, industry news, etc.

The website is structured around several such key themes, with the information packaged accordingly,
depending upon your interests, as shown by the vertical columns on the Sitemap Page. However, The
Wireless Directory is more than a website, it is a community, with much of our content provided by
individuals working for companies whose information you'll find here who choose to join the community
(free of charge) to contribute and to receive e-news bulletins.