| When buying any digital electronic device, | | | | the need for complex network configurations. |
| whether a cellphone, PDA, or notebook | | | | Bluetooth also has lower power consumption, |
| computer, it is important to check the | | | | making it more economical, though its range |
| specifications to ensure that it will serve | | | | is shorter. |
| your purposes. Bluetooth is becoming an | | | | |
| increasingly popular offering in personal | | | | You Need Bluetooth |
| electronics, but do you need it? | | | | |
| | | | If you wish to have an extremely basic home |
| What Is Bluetooth? | | | | network, Bluetooth is for you. There are no |
| | | | wires to trip you and there are no complex |
| Bluetooth is a wireless PAN (Personal Area | | | | configurations like network permissions or |
| Network) transmission protocol standard. In | | | | addresses to deal with. Piconets are |
| layman's terms, Bluetooth is a technology | | | | temporary, so a new device can immediately |
| that enables a device to communicate and | | | | join or leave a Bluetooth network with |
| share data with other Bluetooth capable | | | | nothing more than a simple device discovery. |
| devices - cellphones, headsets, PDAs, | | | | It is important to note, however, that |
| notebook computers, desktop PCs, computer | | | | piconets are no substitution for a |
| peripherals, printers, cameras, and others - | | | | traditional home network (whether through |
| through radio wave transmission (so there is | | | | Ethernet or 802.11 Wireless), which are much |
| no need for wires) at a range of around 1, | | | | more reliable and offer much more full-bodied |
| 10, or 100 meters, depending on the class of | | | | security options. |
| your Bluetooth device (Class 1 has the | | | | |
| longest range and Class 3 the shortest). | | | | If you have a notebook computer, there is a |
| | | | good chance you will want to have Bluetooth |
| If a device has a Bluetooth chip, it can | | | | connectivity so that you can take advantage |
| communicate with other devices that have a | | | | of the many Bluetooth-equipped peripherals, |
| Bluetooth chip. Users can share pictures, | | | | thereby eliminating the need for bulky wires. |
| movies, datasheets, documents, and all sorts | | | | You can also easily synchronize data between |
| of information among them as long as their | | | | your handheld devices and your notebook |
| devices are in range (they do not need to be | | | | computer. Moreover, if you are fond of |
| in direct line of sight). For instance, a | | | | sharing data with other handheld device |
| Bluetooth-capable digital camera can | | | | users, you definitely need to have Bluetooth |
| communicate with a Bluetooth-capable printer | | | | for easy and convenient data sharing. |
| for direct printing. Likewise, a | | | | |
| Bluetooth-capable cellphone can be connected | | | | You Don't Need Bluetooth |
| to a Bluetooth-equipped headset so that a | | | | |
| person can take and make hands-free telephone | | | | It is important to note that Bluetooth can |
| calls. | | | | present a security risk if you store |
| | | | sensitive information on your |
| Bluetooth can be used for internet | | | | Bluetooth-enabled device. If you are |
| connectivity as long as a Bluetooth-enabled | | | | traveling with sensitive information on your |
| computer is in range of a Bluetooth modem. | | | | computer, cell-phone, or PDA, it is wise to |
| Bluetooth devices can also form a small | | | | disable Bluetooth temporarily to prevent data |
| wireless network (called a piconet) of up to | | | | theft or exploitation. Please also note that |
| 8 devices. For security, devices can be | | | | some corporations and government entities |
| paired and transmissions encrypted. So that | | | | disapprove of Bluetooth and similar |
| it causes only minimal interference, | | | | convenience-based additions, so please check |
| Bluetooth periodically changes frequency | | | | with your employer if you intend to use your |
| channels. | | | | Bluetooth-enabled notebook for business. |
| | | | |
| Bluetooth uses the same radio frequency that | | | | This article may be republished freely as |
| 802.11 Wireless Networking does, but it is | | | | long as this copyright notice and box of |
| much simpler than 802.11 technology, negating | | | | resource links are included at the bottom. |