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Home » Bluetooth » Wi-Fi

Bluetooth
When we look at WI-FI, Bluetooth software and Bluetooth products, we should start with the basics. Bluetooth is a standard and communications industrial specification or electronic protocol for wireless personal area networks (PANs). Bluetooth is an option to exchange information between devices such as cell phones, laptops, digital cameras, video game consoles, personal computers and printers, over a short-range radio frequency which is secure and globally unlicensed. The devices linked by Bluetooth do not have to be in the line of sight. They can even be in different rooms. It is just that the signal has to be powerful enough for the devices to communicate.
In order to use Bluetooth, a device must be compatible with some specified Bluetooth profiles which define the possible applications and uses. The most popular Bluetooth applications are Wireless control of and communication between a mobile phone and a car kit or hands free headset. Wireless networking between PCs in secluded and small environs. Wireless links with PC input and output devices such as the mouse, keyboard and printer. File transfers between devices with OBEX and transfers of calendar appointments, contact details and reminders between OBEX devices.

Other applications are controls of applications where infrared was formerly used. Advertisements from Bluetooth advertising hoardings to other Bluetooth devices. Seventh generation game consoles, Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii, use Bluetooth for the wireless controllers. Dial-up Internet access on PDA – Personal Digital Assistant or personal computer or using a data-capable mobile phone as a modem. Receiving commercial advertisements at a kiosk at movie theater or lobby.

Bluetooth is different from Wi-Fi in the respect that Wi-Fi covers greater distances and gives higher throughput but requires more expensive hardware and higher power consumption. They employ different multiplexing schemes while using the same frequency range. PCs need a Bluetooth adapter to communicate with Bluetooth devices like cell phones, mice and keyboards though recent laptops come with a built-in Bluetooth adapter.

Bluetooth specification was developed by Jaap Haartsen in 1994 and he was joined six months later by Sven Mattisson and is based on frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology. Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) announced the specification on May 20, 1998 and was was established by Ericsson, Toshiba, Nokia, IBM, Intel and Sony Ericsson. Today, the specification has more than 7000 companies worldwide.

The future of Bluetooth specification is very bright. To give an example,Bluetooth technology features increasingly in VOIP – voice over Internet protocol scenario. Bluetooth headsets are thus wireless extensions to the PC audio system. As VOIP becomes more suited to general home or office users than wired phone lines, Bluetooth may be used in cordless handsets, with base station hooked to the Internet link.

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) is a private, not-for-profit trade association with headquarters in Bellevue, Washington. SIG members carry on the development of Bluetooth wireless technology. They also implement, market the technology in their products. The Bluetooth SIG itself does not make, manufacture, or sell Bluetooth enabled products.