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Bluetooth devices will normally operate at 2.4 GHZ

in the license free, globally available ISM radio

band. The advantage to this band includes worldwide

availability and compatibility. A disadvantage to

this however, is that the devices must share this

band with other RF emitters. This includes

automobile security systems, other wireless devices,

and other noise sources, such as microwaves.

To overcome this challenge, Bluetooth employs a

fast frequency hopping scheme and therefore uses

shorter packets than other standards within the

ISM band. This scheme helps to make Bluetooth

communication more robust and more secure.

Frequency hopping

Frequency hopping is basically jumping from frequency

to frequency within the ISM radio band. After a

bluetooth device sends or receives a packet, it

and the device (or devices) it's communicating with

hop to another frequency before the next packet is

sent. This scheme offers three advantages:

1. Allows Bluetooth devices to use the

entirety of the available ISM band, while never

transmitting from a fixed frequency for more than a

short period of time. This helps insure that

Bluetooth conforms to the ISM restrictions on the

transmission quantity per frequency.

2. Ensures that any interference won't

last long. Any packet that doesn't arrive safely

to its destination can be resent to the next

frequency.

3. Provides a base level of security as

it's very hard for an eavesdropping device to predict

which frequency the Bluetooth devices will use

next.

The connected devices however, must agree upon the

frequency they will use next. The specification

in Bluetooth ensures this in two ways. First, it

defines a master and slave type relationship between

bluetooth devices. Next, it specifies an algorithm

that uses device specific information when

calculating the frequency hop sequences.

A Bluetooth device that operates in master mode can

communicate with up to seven devices that are set in

slave mode. To each of the slaves, the master

Bluetooth device will send its own unique address

and the value of its own internal clock. The

information sent is then used to calculate the

frequency hop sequences.

Because the master device and each of the slave

devices use the same algorithm with the same initial

input, the connected devices will always arrive

together at the next frequency that they have agreed

upon.

As a replacement for cable technology, it's no

wonder that Bluetooth devices are usually battery

powered, such as wireless mice and battery powered

cell phones. To conserve the power, most devices

operate in low power. This helps to give Bluetooth

devices a range of around 5 - 10 meters.

This range is far enough for wireless communication

but close enough to avoid drawing too much power

from the power source of the device.

Bluetooth was designed to allow low bandwidth wireless

connections to become easy to use so even those who

are new to wireless can use them. Version 1.1 of

Bluetooth describes a low power, short range wireless

networking technology that uses radio waves to send

data at rates up to 720 kilobits a second.

The specification for Bluetooth provides for different

classes of radio that allow transmission ranges of

up to 100 meters by boosting the radio power. The

technology of Bluetooth isn't limited to line of

sight transmission since it uses directional waves

that are capable of transmitting through many

obstructions.

Bluetooth is an industry standard communication of

wireless, meaning that it enables the connection

of other devices as well, such as cell phones,

computers, digital cameras, and other types of

electronic devices. The specification of Bluetooth

defines a radio system and a "stack" of protocol

layers and profiles. The highest layer is the

application layer, while the lowest layer is the

radio.

The wireless technology of Bluetooth is positioned

to revolutionize the personal connectivity market

by providing freedom from inconvenient fixed type

lines.

The specification for Bluetooth eliminates the need

for cables by providing a small form factor, low

cost wireless solution that will link computers,

cell phones, and other electronics. Bluetooth

also allows users to connect many ranges of devices

quickly and easily and expands communications

capabilities as well.

The size of the Bluetooth radio is amazing, as a

Bluetooth radio can be built into one or two very

small microchips then integrated into any electronic

device where wireless operations would be an

advantage.

Bluetooth also offers a robust link, which ensures

that normal operating circumstances are not

interrupted by interference from other signals

that are operating in the same frequency band.

Also known for its worldwide operation, Bluetooth

radio operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, which

is license free and available to any type of

radio system in the world. No matter where you

are in the world, you count on Bluetooth to work.

Security is also important. Offering advanced

security mechanisms, Bluetooth ensures a high level

of security. Therefore, authentification will

prevent unauthorized acess to important data and

make it very difficult to listen in.

Bluetooth also boasts power optimization. The radio

is power friendly and the software for Bluetooth

is very configurable, limiting the power consumption

of equipment. The radio itself only consumes a

small amount of power from a cellular phone.

The networking standards of Bluetooth will transmit

data via low power radio frequency. Bluetooth

communicates on a 2.45 GHz frequency. This very

band of frequency has been set aside by international

agreement for the use of industrial and medical

devices.

Many devices that you already known and use take

advantage of this frequency band. Garage door

openers, baby monitors, and the next generation of

mobile phones all use this frequency within the ISM

band. Ensuring that Bluetooth and the other

devices don't interfere with each other is a crucial

part of the design process.

One of the ways Bluetooth will avoid interfering

with other electronic devices is by sending out

weak signals of around 1 mw. In comparison, even

the most powerful of cell phones can transmit a

signal of 3 watts.

The low power signals will limit the range of a

Bluetooth device to around 32 feet, which cut the

chances of interference between your computer and

other electronic devices. Even though it has low

power, Bluetooth doesn't require a line of sight

between the communicating devices. The walls in

your home won't stop the signal, making it great

for rooms throughout the house.

Bluetooth can connect 8 devices at the same time.

With each of those devices on the same radius,

you may think they would interfere with each

other, although it's very unlikely. Bluetooth

utilizes a technique known as low frequency

hopping, which makes it harder for more than

one device to transmit on the same frequency

at the same time.

With this technique, a device will use 79

individual, randomly chosen frequencies within

a designated range, which change from one another

on a regular basis.

In the case of Bluetooth, the transmitters will

change frequency 1,600 times or more every

second, meaning that more devices can make full

use of the radio spectrum. Since every

transmitter of Bluetooth will use spread spectrum

automatically, it's very unlikely that two

transmitters will be on the same frequency at the

exact same time.

When the Bluetooth devices come within close range

of each other, an electronic conversation will

occur to determine whether or not they have

data to share or whether one needs to take total

control. The user doesn't have any buttons to

press or commands to give - as the conversation

will occur automatically.

Once the conversation has occured, the devices

will form a network. Bluetooth devices will

create a PAN (Personal Area Network) or piconet

that may fill a room. Once the piconet has been

established, the devices will randomly hop in

Bluetooth is a high speed, low powered wireless link

technology that's designed to connect phones or other

portable equipment together with little to no work

required by the user. Unlike infrared, Bluetooth

doesn't require line of site positioning to work.

Current prototype circuits are contained on a board

that is 0.9 cm square, with a much smaller circuit

board being developed.

When one Bluetooth device comes in contact with

another, they will automatically exchange addresses

and details of capability. Then, they can establish

a 1 MB link with security that they will use as

required. The protocols involved with handle both

data and voice, with a very flexible topography.

The technology achieves its goal by embedding tiny,

non expensive short range tranceivers into the

devices available today. The radio operates on the

2.45 GHz frequency band, and supports up to 721

KBps, along with three voice channels.

Each devices offers a unique 48 bit address from

the IEEE 802 standard, with the connections being

point to point or multipoint. The max range is

10 meters, although it can be extended to 100

meters by increasing the power. The devices are

also protected from radio interference by changing

their frequencies, also known as frequency hopping.

What's important, is the fact that Bluetooth

devices won't drain battery life. The specification

targets power consumption of the device, limiting

the drain on the battery. The radio chip will

consume only 0.3mA in stand by mode, which is less

than 5% of the power that standard phones use.

Bluetooth will also guarantee security at the bit

level. The authentification is controlled by the

user via a 128 bit key. The radio signals can

be coded with anything up to 128 bit. With the

frequency hopping, Bluetooth is already very

hard to listen into.

The baseband protocol is a combination of both

circuit and packet switches. Slots can be reserved

for synchronous packets as well. Each packet

will be transmitted in a different hop frequency.

Normally, a packet covers a single slot although

it can be extended to cover up to five slots.

Bluetooth can also support data channels of up to

three simultaneous voice channels. Therefore,

it's possible to transfer the data while you talk

at the same time. Each individual voice channel

will support 64 KB.

From a technical standpoint, Bluetooth is very

different indeed. It's the best wireless method

in the world, surpassing even infrared. For

communication on the go, Bluetooth is indeed

very hard to compete with.

Bluetooth technology offers three different types

of defined ranges, based on output ranges. Class

1 devices are the most powerful, as they can have

up to 100 mW of power, with a regular antenna

giving them a range of around 130 - 330 feet.

The class 2 devices are lower power, offering up

to 2.5 mW of power. A regular antenna will give

them a range of around 50 - 100 feet. Class 3

devices use even less power, up to 1 mW of power

to be exact. With a regular antenna, they will

have a range of around 16 - 33 feet.

Even though you may not realize it, Bluetooth

wireless technology has never been intended for

anything other than short distance types of

communication. With Bluetooth wireless, the short

range is actually a benefit.

For one, the short range will reduce the change of

interference between your devices and those that

belong to others who are nearby. Overall, this

is a basic type of security, designed to protect

you and your devices.

Secondly, the lower power used for short range

means a longer battery life. Most Bluetooth

devices will get their power from a battery,

meaning that anything you can do to lengthen the

battery life is very important.

The wireless networking offered by Bluetooth is

actually among the best, even though it uses

short range communication. Bluetooth is used

with wireless controllers, the internet, and

even wireless headsets.

For the best in short range technology, Bluetooth

is extremely hard to beat. If you've never tried

Bluetooth before, now is the time. It's the best

with wireless networking, especially for those

who enjoy hands free talking on their cell phone.

The amazing technology of Bluetooth presents a great

way of exchanging data between two wireless devices.

Unlike telephones, there are no wires or messy

leads to worry about. You can enjoy wireless

communications with short distances of up to thirty

feet.

Bluetooth also offers interoperability, meaning that

you can use your portable Bluetooth device to connect

with existing Bluetooth points. This way, you won't

have to carry a data lead or CDs of drivers around

with you everywhere you go. You can enjoy the best

of wireless without having to worry about installing

your software.

With today's Bluetooth, you can use your PDA and cell

phone to surf the net or check emails as you travel.

If you are in the business field, this can be very

beneficial, especially if you like to check your

email throughout the day. Bluetooth will enable you

to check your email no matter where you are - which

is great news for those who like to travel.

Bluetooth will also enable to you to transfer files

as well, such as MP3 and photo to and from your mobile

device. Bluetooth dominates the world of short range

wireless, enabling you to do more than you may

have thought possible.

One of the best things to Bluetooth and something

everyone loves is the wireless headset. Bluetooth

offers wire free headsets for your cell phone or

computer, which is great for those who like to walk

around or talk on the phone in the car, without

having to worry about your hands getting in the way.

To make things even better, you can use a Bluetooth

GPS device for satellite navigation on your PDA,

laptop, or mobile. If you travel - this can be

Bluetooth is easily the best in wireless handheld

technology. When it comes to learning, Bluetooth

can get quite complicated. To help you, you'll find

the key learning points of Bluetooth below:

1. Bluetooth is an energy efficient, low

overhead communication protocol that's ideal for

interdevice communications.

2. Unlike infrared, Bluetooth doesn't require

a line of sight.

3. Depending on the implementation, Bluetooth

can have a range of up to 100 meters.

4. The specification of Bluetooth consists of

a Foundation Profile Document and a Foundation Core

Document.

5. The protocol stack for Bluetooth consists

of core protocols, cable protocols, and even adapted

protocols.

6. The transmitter operates around the 2.4

GHz frequency band.

7. The data channel will change frequency, or

hops, 1,600 times in a second, between the 79 allocated

channels in the ISM band.

8. Bluetooth utilizes a spread spectrum

frequency hopping RF characteristic to ensure that

independant networking operates when the other

devices are in range.

9. A piconet is formed when one or more

devices open up a channel of communication.

10. A piconet can have a master and up to

seven slaves.

11. Communication of the interdevice is

based on the concepts of channels.

12. All Bluetooth devices are capable of

transmitting voice.

13. The channel has a total capacity of

1 MB per second.

14. There are two types of channels with

Bluetooth - SCO (Synchronous Connection Oriented) and

ACL (Asynchronous Connectionless).

15. The SCO channels are time oriented, and

are therefore primarily used for transferring time

critical data such as voice.

16. ACL channels are normally used for

communicating data.

17. Data contained in a packet can be up to

2,745 bits in length.

18. In a single piconet, there can be up

to three SCO links containing 64,000 bits a second

each.

19. To avoid collision and timing problems,

SCO links are reserved slots that are set up by

the master.

20. The masters can support up to three

SCO links with either one, two, or three slaves.

21. The slots that aren't reserved for SCO

links can be used as ACL links.

22. The LMP (Link Management Protocol)

will handle link level security, error corrections,

and the establishment of communications links.

23. The LMP packets will have priority

over user packets that originate and form the

L2CAP layer.

24. The L2CAP layer will ensure an

acceptable quality of service.

25. No more than one ACL link can exist

Because it meets the basic needs of connectivity in

close range, Bluetooth has a very bright future

ahead of it. Bluetooth is actually the result of

initiatives from nine leading communications and

computer industry giants, including 3-COM, Sony,

Lucent, IBM, Nokia, Microsoft, etc.

Since the forming of the original group, more than

1,800 manufacturers around the world have joined

the initiative. According to reports, the Bluetooth

technology is expected to be built into more than

100 million devices, with over 670 million enabled

Bluetooth devices.

Resulting from the amazing success of WAP (Wireless

Application Protocol), the adoption of smart phones

and hand held devices, Bluetooth can easily have

an amazing impact on your day to day life. Bluetooth

is one of the key technologies that can help to

make the mobile information society happen, by

blurring the possibilities between home, the office,

and the outside world.

The seamless integration and connectivity that

Bluetooth promises will make it possible to explore

a wide range of interactive and highly transparent

personalized services which were actually quite

difficult to dream of simply because of the

complexity involved with making such devices

communicate with each other.

Many Bluetooth pilot products have already been

rolled into the market and backed by big vendors,

which is a healthy sign for the overall acceptance

of the technology. The support for Bluetooth isn't

limited to companies that develop only Bluetooth

enabled products.

The applications for Bluetooth can have great

impacts on other industries as well. The adoption

of Bluetooth technology is expected to spread

throughout the industry of computers.

Unlike infrared technology, Bluetooth is used by

many different wireless devices. Bluetooth offers

exceptional quality for short range wireless, even

going through walls and obstructions. While

infrared is the biggest competitor at this time,

Bluetooth far surpasses it, proving to millions that

it is the wireless communication technology of the

present day and age.

In the beginning, Bluetooth started with version 1.0,

then gradually moved from there. The current

version is 2.0+EDR, with another version currently

in development. The technology behind the Bluetooth

specification always getting better and better,

which is why it's so popular.

In the future, you can expect the technology

behind Bluetooth to get better. Bluetooth has

proven to be the wireless standard of the future,

offering you wireless connectability for hundreds

of different devices. For cell phones or other forms

of wireless connections, Bluetooth is the one

technology that you don't want to find yourself

Below, you'll find a list of the most used terms in

Bluetooth technology. They can serve as a look up,

or to help you learn more about Bluetooth terms in

general.

2 in 1 handset

The situation where a subscriber's handset is acting

as a remote handset to a base unit that provides a

network connection.

3G

Third generation, referring to the next generation

of digital phone technology.

802.11 WLAN

A wireless LAN specification defined by the IEEE.

Access code

Each base band packet will start with an access code,

which can be one of 3 types - CAC, DAC, and IAC.

ACK

Acknowledge.

ACL

Asynchronous Connectionless Link. This is one of the

two types of data links that are defined for Bluetooth.

ACO

Authenticated Ciphering Offset.

Active mode

During the active mode, the unit will actively

participate on the channel. The master will schedule

the transmission based on traffic demands from the

different slaves.

AP

Access point.

Authentification

The process of verifying who is at the opposite end

of the link.

Authentification device

A device whose identity has been verified during the

lifetime of the current link based on the

authentification procedure.

Baseband

This describes the specification of the digital

signal processing aspect of the hardware - the

controller - which carries out the baseband

protocols.

BB

Abreviation of baseband.

BD

Bluetooth device.

BER

Bit Error Rate.

The above is more of an intro to the terms that are

used with Bluetooth. Bluetooth currently has hundreds

of devices, making it the best wireless solution in

the world. With more coming out every day, you can

bet that Bluetooth will be around for many years to

come.

If you are new to Bluetooth, the terms used can be

very helpful. There are hundreds of glossary terms

that apply to Bluetooth, many of which describe

shortcuts to common terms. You can learn a lot by

reading over the meanings, especially if you have

never used Bluetooth technology before.

Those of you who have experience with Bluetooth,

can look over the glossary of terms to brush up

on your knowledge or just check out what an unfamiliar

term actually means. Nothing is complicated with

the meanings, although they make take some getting

used to.

Once you have been around Bluetooth for a while,

you'll find yourself right at home with the terms

and meanings to the technology. All you need to do

is play around with it, and read books or manuals

whenever you get the chance. Before you know it,

you'll be a professional in the vast world of

The technology of Bluetooth is nothing new, but in

many respects it can still seem like more of a buzz

word rather than an accepted technology. You may

see the ads for Bluetooth enabled devices, although

you still may be wondering what it is.

Capabilities

The Bluetooth definition is a wireless technology

that is a worldwide specification for a small form

factor, low cost solution that will provide link

between mobile devices and other electronic

devices.

Similiar to 802.11 b/g wireless and many cordless

telephone systems, Bluetooth operates on 2.4 GHz

radio signals. The 2.4 GHz band seems to be a bit

crowded, with interferences between the devices a

bit hard to avoid. Telephones are now being offered

at the 5.8 GHz frequency band, which will help to

remedy this.

The technical specifications of Bluetooth will

indicate a maximum transfer rate of 723 kbps with

a range of 65 - 328 feet, all depending on the

class of that particular device. The speed is a

fraction of what is offered by wireless standards,

so it's obvious that Bluetooth doesn't really

pose a threat to replacing your wireless network.

Applications

There are numerous products that will take advantage

of Bluetooth capabilities, such as laptops, PDAs,

headphones, and even wireless printer adapters.

A lot of laptops out there will include an onboard

Bluetooth adapter which allows the system to

connect to any Bluetooth device right out of the

box. For computers that don't have an adaptor

built right in, there are several USB adaptors

available for Bluetooth.

For an awesome technology, Bluetooth is actually

hard to compete with. For short range wireless,

Bluetooth is easily one of the best. The standard

for Bluetooth keeps getting better and better,

making it a wireless technology that will be around

for years and years to come.

With new electrical devices being produced every day,

the problem of connecting things is becoming more

and more complex in nature. The system that comprises

computers and other electronics makes use of varieties

of wires, cables, etc.

These parts will communicate through light beams,

lasers, radio signals, and infrared. The problem

however, is the devices and technology is often the

connection between each component. Therefore, most

electronic systems aren't used to their full extent

due to the problems and imperfections.

To help simplify things, a solution was created -

the solution of Bluetooth. Bluetooth is wireless

and automatic, offering users a variety of features

that have simplified the art of connection. Bluetooth

has revolutionized the standard methods of connecting

things to enabling almost anything to be connected

to a single system.

Aside from Bluetooth, there are other ways of

connecting wireless devices. One example of such

is the IR or infrared. Infrared allows low frequency

light waves to transmit signals to another component.

This technology is easy to create and the cost of

putting the IR device into a system is rather low.

Infrared technology is a one to one process. Due

to the limitation, you may only send signals from one

device to another, similar to a television set and

remote control. You can only transmit signals

between the two although not with a seperate system.

Aside from the fact that these two natures of

infrared are obstacles to acquiring results, these

same qualities have worked in advantage to the

connection. Infrared devices need to be lined up

directly, meaning too little interference can occur

between the transmitters and receivers.

The technology behind Bluetooth works by transmitting

signals through low frequency radio signals. The

path of communication is working on 2.45 GHz, which

is the same frequency band used in ISM devices.

The profile found in Bluetooth will describe how

the technology is used. Profiles can be best

described as vertical slices through the protocol

stack. It will define options in each protocol

that are mandatory for the profile.

The profile will also define the parameter ranges

for each protocol. The concept of the profile is

used to decrease the risk of interoperability

problems between the different products. These

profiles won't normally define any additions to

the Bluetooth specification, which is why you can

add new profiles where you need them. The

Bluetooth underlying technology is the same, only

the specific method that it's used is defined.

Generally speaking, all profiles of Bluetooth are

based on the GAP (Generic Access Profile). There

are 9 profiles that fall in the GAP category, and

they are below:

1. AVRCP - Audio/Video Remote Control

Profile

2. ESDP - Extended Service Discovery Profile

3. CIP - Common ISDN Access Profile

4. PAN - Public Area Network Profile

5. HCRP - Hardcopy Cable Replacement

Profile

6. GAVDP - Generic Audio/Visual Distribution

Profile

7. A2DP - Advanced Audio Distribution Profile

8. VDP - Video Distribution Profile

9. HID - Human Interface Device Profile

To put it another way, usage models will describe

Bluetooth device applications and the associated

profiles that are used. The usage model focuses

mainly on three categories - voice/data access points,

peripheral interconnects, and PAN (Personal Area

Networking).

The voice and data access points involve connecting

computing devices to communicating devices through

a wireless link. This way, data can be transferred

in a wireless manor, without the need of cables or

other types of connectivity.

PAN is another very important usage model with

strong appeal to business customers. Bluetooth

networks are easy to set up in virtually any type

of environment. An example would be meeting

others at a trade show.

Instead of having contact information beamed via

infrared, business cards can quickly and easily be

transferred via Bluetooth wireless. The fact is

that many documents can be exchanged this very

same way - making the uses and possibilities

virtually endless.

The Bluetooth profile is very important to the

specification, as it enables you to do so much

more. You can use peripherals and devices with

the profiles, and virtually anything else that you

decide.

As Bluetooth expands and gets bigger and better,

you can count on the profiles to expand and get

even more functions. If you have experience with

Bluetooth profiles, you should know exactly what

they are and what you can do with them. If not,

all you need is a Bluetooth device - and a vivid

The technology of Bluetooth will take small area

networking to the next level by removing the need

for user intervention and help keep transmission

power very low to preserve battery power. Each

transmission signal to and from your cellular

phone will use just 1 mw of power, giving you

plenty of space on your battery to talk.

Bluetooth is a networking standard that will

work on two levels:

1. It will provide agreement at the

physical level, as Bluetooth is a radio frequency

standard.

2. It will provide agreement at the level

of protocol, where products will have to agree

on when bits are sent, how many are sent, and how

the parties in conversation can be sure the message

recieved is the same one that was sent.

The major draws to Bluetooth is the fact that

it's wireless, inexpensive, and automatic. There

are other ways to get around wires, including

infrared. Infrared uses light waves of a lower

frequency than the human eye can, and is normally

used in television remote controls.

The technology of Bluetooth is intended to get

around the problems that normally come with

infrared systems. The 1.0 older standard of

Bluetooth has a max transfer speed of 1 MB a

second, while the 2.0 Bluetooth standard can

manage up to 3.0 MB a second. To make things

better, 2.0 is compatible with 1.0 devices.

As a solution to wireless, Bluetooth will

eliminate the need for messy cords, keeping

everything nice and neat. It's perfect for those

who like to talk on cell phones, as you no

longer need to hold the phone next to your

ear - which is great for those who travel a

In the United States, Bluetooth gets absolutely no

respect. It is however, becoming more and more

common in notebooks, PDAs, and especially cell

phones. Bluetooth will provide wireless users a

way to transmit small amounts of data over short

distances.

Now, Bluetooth is facing stiff competition from

new wireless technology. Referred to as UWB or

Ultra Wideband, it promises data transfer of up

to 480 MB a second - while most current Bluetooth

devices transfer data up to 721 KB a second.

For the time being, Bluetooth devices are surely

cropping up. Below, we will look at some of

the accessories offered with Bluetooth technology.

Talking to the dashboard

When pairing it with a cell phone, the CCM Blue

Warrior car kit becomes a great speaker phone that

plugs into the power adapter of your vehicle. The

noise cancelling microphone will reduce background

noise efficiently, with the large buttons making

adjusting the speaker volume a snap. Although

the Blue Warrior is far from sexy or sleek, it's

very practical.

Tiny tuning box

Part MP3 player and part hands free phone, the

compact and lightweight Sony HBM-30 is an attractive

gadget that lets you accept calls with minimal

interruption of your tunes. When you get an incoming

call it will automatically pause your music, then

you speak into the built in microphone that you

can wear around your neck or clip to your clothes.

The pen

With Nokia's SU-1B digital pen, you can doodle and

make hand written notes in ink on a special pad

then transmit them from the pad to your Bluetooth

phone. Being an alternative to typing on a cell

phone keypad, the pen is very handy, although a

pricey tool from MMS fans.

Snapshots

If you want to make slide shows with your camera

photos, the Nokia SU-2 image viewer will let you

disply your pictures on a TV or projector. Simply

hook this square gray device to your TV's input

with the built in cable, then beam the pictures

to the SU-2 from your Bluetooth enabled phone and

the photo fest will begin.

This device is a snap to set up and use, although

it displays resolutions of up to 640 by 480. If

you have a newer phone that takes high resolution

photos, you won't be able to use the Nokia SU-2

image viewer.

Keep in mind, the 640 by 480 pixel photos will

appear blocky on TV screens, no matter what you

do. If your phone can send batches of photos, you

can create a slide show - although Nokia claims

you can use sequentially beamed shots as well.

Constantly evolving, the technology of Bluetooth

started off as a basic wireless connection standard

but has since then been adapted and proven with many

different uses and functions.

A good example is Bluetooth for cell phones. It

enables mobile users to connect to their hands free

headset without using wires. Bluetooth technology

will also allow mobile phone users to connect

with their hands free kit as well.

Another handy use of Bluetooth is file sharing. It

allows the sharing of files between two cell phones,

between a cell phone and computer, which makes the

sharing of files a snap. If you have a cell phone

and computer, you can easily transfer data between

the two.

Say for example you wanted to put an MP3 on your

phone from your computer you could do it easily

with Bluetooth. All you would need is a Bluetooth

adapter for your computer. It doesn't stop with the

swapping of files either,as you can use your computer

and phone to synchronise phone books, send SMS messages,

and much more.

Although Bluetooth may be dandy for cell phones,

it also comes in handy for the home office as well.

Utilizing Bluetooth is a great way to set up a

home office - two computers, a printer, and even a

scanner. They all can be connected using Bluetooth

technology with effective ranges of up to 10 meters.

The technology and devices of Bluetooth will be

around for years and years to come. As years go

by, Bluetooth will provide even better wireless

solutions for different applications. Even though

Bluetooth has a short range, it has that short

range for a reason. Bluetooth is easily the best

in wireless technology - which it continues to

prove time and time again.

Below, are 10 benefits and reasons to use Bluetooth

technology.

1. Wireless

As you probably already know, there are many benefits

and advantages to using wireless devices. Along with

improving safety as a result of eliminating wires

you don't need, wireless also offers you plenty of

other advantages. When traveling with your laptop

or other wireless devices, you'll no longer have to

worry about bringing connection cables.

2. Bluetooth is actually inexpensive

The technology of Bluetooth is cheap for companies

to implement, which results in lower costs for the

company. These savings are then passed from the

company on to you.

3. Bluetooth is automatic

Bluetooth doesn't have you set up a connection or

push any buttons. When two or more devices enter

a range of up to 30 feet of each other, they will

automatically begin to communicate without you

having to do anything.

4. Standardized protocol

Bluetooth is standardized wireless, meaning that

a high level of compatibility among devices is

guaranteed. Bluetooth will connect devices to

each other, even if they aren't the same model.

5. Low interference

Bluetooth devices almost always avoid interference

from other wireless devices. Bluetooth uses a

technique known as frequency hopping, and also

low power wireless signals.

6. Low energy consumption

As a result of Bluetooth using low power signals,

the technology requires very little energy and will

use less battery or electrical power as a result.

This is an excellent benefit for mobile devices,

as Bluetooth won't drain the battery.

7. Sharing voice and data

The standard for Bluetooth will allow compatible

devices to share data and voice communications.

This is great for mobile phones and headsets, as

Bluetooth simplifies driving and talking on your

cell phone.

8. Instant PAN (Personal Area Network)

You can connect up to seven Bluetooth devices to

each other within a range of up to 30 feet, forming

a piconet or PAN. For a single room, you can

also set up multiple piconets.

9. Upgradeable

Upgradeable is the standard for Bluetooth. There

are newer versions of Bluetooth in the works,

which offer many new advantages and backward

compatible with older versions.

10. The technology stays

Bluetooth technology is a world wide, universal

wireless standard. With it being as popular as

it is, you can count on it being around for years

to come. As more and more devices start to use

Bluetooth technology, more manufacturers will be

eager to make their products compatible. A chain

reaction will occur, making Bluetooth the standard

for cutting edge wireless.

Below, you'll find several specifications for the

well known Bluetooth:

1. Throughout the United States and even Europe,

the range of frequency is 2,400 - 2,483.5 MHZ, with

79 1-MHz RF (radio frequency) channels. The

frequency range in Japan is 2,472 to 2,497 MHz with

23 1-MHz RF channels.

2. A data channel of Bluetooth randomly hops 1,600

times per second between the 79 RF channels.

3. Each Bluetooth channel is divided into time

slots, with each one being 625 microseconds long.

4. A Bluetooth piconet has one master and up to

seven slaves. The master will transmit in even

time slots, while the slaves will transmit in odd

time slots.

5. The data in a single packet can be up to 2,745

bits in length.

6. Currently, there are two types of data transfer

between devices - SCO (synchronous connection

oriented) and ACL (asynchronous connectionless).

7. In a Bluetooth piconet, there can be up to

three SCO links containing 64,000 bits per second

with each one. To help avoid collision and timing

problems, the links of the SCO will use reserved

slots set up by the master.

8. A master can support up to three SCO links

with either one, two, or even three slaves.

9. The slots not reserved for the SCO links can

be used for ACL links.

10. A single master and slave can have one ACL

link.

11. ACL is either master to one slave (point to

point) or it broadcasts to all of the slaves.

12. The ACL slaves will only transmit when it has

been requested by the master. If the master doesn't

make the request, the ACL slaves won't transmit

Creating a good wireless headset for Bluetooth is

actually difficult to do. The regular wired headsets

are easy to design - with ranging styles.

Bluetooth headsets can never be as small or as light

as wired headsets, simply because it needs to include

the battery and extra functions. This extra size

will impact how the headset mounts on or around

your ears.

Comfort

There seems to be two main styles of headsets for

Bluetooth. Some are held into place with a loop

around the ear. These styles are normally more

comfortable, although they may be less secure. The

others are held in place by being jammed into

your ear - and usually prove to be less comfortable.

Factors to consider

Cost

The cost is an obvious issue, something that you

really need to think about.

Ergonomics

1. Check to see if the device is easy to

quickly and conveniently put on your ear then take

it off again.

2. Are the control buttons on the headset

easy to use?

3. The headset should be comfortable to

wear for long phone calls.

4. Can you use it with a pair of glasses?

5. Check to see if you can wear it with

either ear.

6. When you aren't wearing it, you'll

need to se how you would carry it with you.

7. The weight is important as well, as you

don't want something that has the risk of falling

off.

Ease of use.

1. The commands and controls should be

easy to remember.

2. The volume level should be easy to

adjust.

3. The unit should turn on quickly.

4. The manual should be very well written

and easy for you to understand.

5. There should be a support number for

you to call if you should experience any types of

problems.

Features

1. You'll need to know about the battery,

the talk time, type, and how to tell when it is

going dead or fully charged.

2. How many devices can the unit be paired

with?

3. Compatability is also important, as

well as the warranty period.

4. Check the sound quality for both

sending and receiving audio.

5. What type of range does the headset offer

you?

Other important capabilities include voice tags,

last number redial, tranfer calls, 3 way calling,

link to other phones, call reject, and mute. You'll

also want to note if it looks attractive, and if

it's too big or too small.

The technology of Bluetooth wireless is a short

range communications method intended to replace

the cables that connect portable or fixed devices

while maintaining the highest levels of security.

The key features offered by Bluetooth include

low power and low cost. The specification in

Bluetooth defines a uniform structure for a wide

range of devices to communicate and connect with

one another.

The technology behind Bluetooth has achieved

global satisfaction such as enabled devices, almost

everywhere in the world. Bluetooth devices will

connect and communicate without wires through

short range and networks known as piconets.

Each device will simultaneously communicate with

up to seven other devices within a single piconet,

meaning that each device can also belong to

several piconets simultaneously. The piconets

are dynamically established as Bluetooth enabled

devices enter and leave the proximity of radio.

A fundamental to Bluetooth strength is the

ability to handle both data and voice transmissions

simultaneously. This will enable users to enjoy

varieties of innovative solutions such as hands

free talking, printing and fax capabilities,

and other applications.

Specifications

Unlike other standards of wireless, the Bluetooth

specification gives product developers both a

link layer and application layer definitions,

which will help support data and voice applications.

Spectrum

The Bluetooth technology operates in the industrial

and scientific band at 2.4 to 2.485 GHz, using a

spread spectrum, frequency hopping signal.

Interference

The adaptive frequency hopping of Bluetooth

technology was designed to reduce interference

between wireless technologies that share the 2.4

GHz spectrum. Adaptive frequency hopping (AFH)

works well within the spectrum to take full

advantage of the frequency available.

AFH hopping allows for more efficient transmission

within the spectrum, which provides users with

greater performance even if they are using other

technologies along with Bluetooth.

With Bluetooth being very popular with wireless, it's

no wonder there are many applications available for

the technology. Below, you'll find the applications

for Bluetooth.

1. Wireless networking between laptops and desktop

computers, or desktops that are in a confined space

and little bandwidth is needed.

2. Peripherals such as mice, keyboards, and printers.

3. Cell phones with Bluetooth technology have been

sold in large numbers, as they are able to connect to

computers, PDAs (Personal Data Assistant), and various

other devices. The standard also includes the

support for more powerful and longer range devices.

4. The transfer of files, images and MP3, between

mobile phones.

5. Certain MP3 players and digital cameras to

transfer files to and from computers.

6. Bluetooth technology headsets for smart phones

and cell phones.

7. Data logging equipment that transmits data to

a computer via Bluetooth technology.

8. Sony Playstation 3 and Nintendo Revolution will

both use Bluetooth technology for their wireless

controllers.

For Bluetooth, there are literally hundreds of

different applications and devices available for you

to use or purchase. As you may already know,

Bluetooth is the most popular wireless technology

in the world. It's very reliable, very dependable,

and very hard to crack into.

There are many other applications for Bluetooth in

development now, many of which plan to take the

wireless age to the next level. Video game systems

are using Bluetooth technology as well, for their

wireless controllers. This is great news for gaming

fans, as Bluetooth offers the best in wireless

data transmission.

If your curious about applications for Bluetooth

that are still in development, you can search on

the internet. You can find all sorts of information,

especially when it comes to Bluetooth. As the

future arrives, you can expect Bluetooth to bring

bigger and better things.