5 Things Bluetooth Can Do For You (Part 1)

Bluetooth has been a popular short-range, low-power wireless standard for nearly a decade, but the technology seems to be coming of age more than growing long in the tooth. If you don’t currently own a Bluetooth-capable device, then chances are good that you will in the very near future. According to the industry analysis firm ABI Research, more than 1 billion unique devices currently employ Bluetooth technology. As if that’s not enough, the Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group), the standards-making body behind the technology, aims to churn out twice that number in a single year by 2010.

Bluetooth technology uses radio waves in the 2.4GHz frequency spectrum to transmit voice and data signals between Bluetooth-enabled devices. Like any standard that’s been around for a while, Bluetooth has undergone several revisions. Depending on the device class, Bluetooth can communicate at a range of up to 3 feet (Class 3), 33 feet (Class 2), and 328 feet (Class 1); and at a rate of up to 3MBps. Like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth is capable of transmitting and receiving data through walls and solid objects, but it does so using 1/5 of the power.

Bluetooth is also easy to use, letting you connect and share data by simply pairing two Bluetooth-enabled devices. Pairing consists of turning on the Bluetooth functionality in each device and configuring them to recognize each other.

Bluetooth is popping up in a wide range of consumer electronics for a number of different applications, and some may surprise you. To clarify the capabilities of Bluetoothenabled devices, the Bluetooth SIG has set out to label each Bluetooth-capable device with one or more icons that clarify the device’s Bluetooth capabilities. The icons represent Bluetooth devices that are headset, input, music, print, and transfer-capable. Within these general categories exist dozens of Profiles. In order for two Bluetooth devices to perform a given wireless function, they both must support the same profile and/or icon category. Below, we’ve provided brief explanations of the new labels and a few details about some of the profiles they encompass.

Communicate

Devices that carry the Headset icon on the packaging use Bluetooth to transmit audio and voice signals between headphones, audio sources, headsets, and cell phones. You may have seen or may currently be using a lightweight Bluetooth wireless headset with your Bluetooth-capable cell phone. These devices are generally compact, light, and comfortable enough to wear for extended conversations and are capable of transmitting voice signals with stunning clarity, all without wires. Many Bluetooth headsets also feature echo and noise canceling technology to improve call quality. The Motorola Bluetooth Headset H700 uses both the HFP (Hands-Free Profile) and the HSP (Headset Profile) to let you make and take calls in hands-free and headset modes, respectively.

But Bluetooth headsets aren’t just for work. When you’re ready to kick back and turn on the tunes, Bluetooth is there to pass music and audio signals from any number of audio devices. Logitech FreePulse Wireless Headphones comes with a Bluetooth module that plugs into any device with a standard mini phono plug that lets you tango without getting tangled in wires, up to 33 feet from the audio source.

Input

If you find the Input icon on a mouse or keyboard’s box, then the device uses the Bluetooth wireless protocol to communicate with compatible devices, such as PDAs, smartphones, notebooks, PCs, and more. The HID (Human Interface Device Profile) is responsible for how Bluetooth devices communicate with Bluetooth-capable keyboards, mice, and other input devices. Bluetooth-capable mice let you scroll without wires, whether you’re at your desktop or on the road. The Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5000 Laser uses the Bluetooth 2.0 specification with Enhanced Data Rate, which lets you connect compatible devices from up to 60 feet away.

Bluetooth technology is also being used in devices that typically used infrared technology, such as remote controls. Interlink Electronics VP6600 ExpressCard Media Remote for Bluetooth works as a media remote for Bluetooth-capable notebooks. With a 30-foot range, you can control music, DVDs, and even slideshows from anywhere in the room. Video game consoles are also using Bluetooth for wireless controllers. Sony’s PS3 and Nintendo’s Wii both include Bluetooth-enabled wireless controllers.

Continue in Part 2