Bluetooth Uses and Applications

With Bluetooth becoming more and more popular as a means of providing a wireless connection between devices, it's no wonder there are hundreds of different applications and devices available for the technology. Bluetooth is primarily designed for low power consumption, with a short range (from 1 metre to 100 metres, depending on the class of device). The technology makes it possible for these devices to communicate with each other when they are in range; additionally, because the devices use a radio communications system, they do not have to be in line of sight of each other to connect.

The most prevalent applications of Bluetooth include:

Sharing Information

Using Bluetooth, you can transfer data between a laptop or PC and a mobile phone or PDA. This can be very handy, allowing the user to synchronise the phone's or PDA's calendar with the calendar on the laptop or PC for up-to-date copies of all appointments and reminders. It's also a useful way of backing up and managing the phone numbers, text messages and other information stored on the phone's SIM card.

Bluetooth can also be used to transfer of data, pictures and other files (such as mp3 files) between mobile phones, and music and photos from MP3 players and digital cameras to computers.

Mobile Internet

If your mobile phone is signed up to a GPRS service, then you can connect a Bluetooth-enabled phone to a laptop to enable the computer to connect to the Internet.

Computer Peripherals

Bluetooth can enable wireless communication with PC input and output devices, such as a mouse, keyboard and printer. In addition to letting you do away with cables, a Bluetooth-enabled printer will also allow you to print photos directly from a Bluetooth-enabled cameraphone without having to save them on your PC first.

Gaming

Two seventh-generation game consoles, Nintendo's Wii and Sony's PlayStation 3, both use the Bluetooth protocol for their respective wireless controllers.

Hands-Free Capability

One of the earliest Bluetooth applications to take off was the wireless control of and communication between a mobile phone and a hands-free headset.

Wireless Networking

Bluetooth can provide wireless networking between laptops and desktop computers in a confined space and where little bandwidth is required.

Other Uses

Other Bluetooth applications include:

• Replacement of controls where infrared was traditionally used.
• Sending small advertisements from Bluetooth-enabled advertising hoardings to other, discoverable, Bluetooth devices.
• Replacement of traditional wired serial communications in test equipment, GPS receivers, medical equipment, bar code scanners, and traffic control devices.