Bluetooth technology is a wireless, radio based communication technology. Bluetooth enabled electronic devices are capable of successfully communicating, at a time, with as many as seven other Bluetooth enabled devices within a short range of distance — usually ranging from about 1 to 10 meters, depending upon the radio class. This technology is always improving, but some limitations still remain. For example, the maximum range of a single Bluetooth device to another one is 30 feet.

Bluetooth is designed specifically for linking between devices (such as printers, mobile phones, home appliances, wireless headsets, mouses, keyboards, and so on), computers, or PDAs to one another, without using a wired connection. The technology is also becoming more and more commonly utilized in mobile phones, allowing them to communicate between computers or PDAs, and is especially widespread in hands-free accessories like Bluetooth headsets.

This short range wireless technology was developed by the collaboration of mobile phones and IT companies such as Intel, Nokia, Toshiba, Erickson and IBM. It is also designed to have a very low power consumption. This is further reinforced by allowing radios to be powered down when they are inactive.

You can think of Bluetooth as an ad hoc technology that requires no fixed infrastructure and is easy to install and set up. You don’t need any wires to get connected. It is most commonly known by consumers for providing the ability to talk on a wireless headset. And one of the nice features of Bluetooth is that it is not manufacturer specific.

By: Jeffrey K. Hall