Bluetooth

:This article is about the Bluetooth wireless specification. For King Harold Bluetooth, see Harold I of Denmark

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Bluetooth is an industrial specification for wireless personal area networks (PANs).

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Bluetooth provides a way to connect and exchange information between devices like personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile phones, laptops, PCs, printers and digital cameras via a secure, low-cost, globally available short range radio frequency.

Related Topics:
Personal digital assistant - Laptop - PC - Printer - Digital camera - Radio - Frequency

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Bluetooth lets these devices talk to each other when they come in range, even if they are not in the same room, as long as they are within up to 100 metres (328 feet) of each other, dependent on the power class of the product. Products are available in one of three power classes:

Related Topics:
Metre - Feet

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• Class 3 (1 mW) is the rarest and allows transmission of 10 centimetres (3.9 inches), with a maximum of 1 metre (3.2 feet)
• Class 2 (2.5 mW) is most common and allows a quoted transmission distance of 10 metres (32 ft)
• Class 1 (100 mW) has the longest range at up to 100 metres. This class of product is readily available.

The specification was first developed by Ericsson, and was later formalized by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). The SIG was formally announced on May 20, 1999. It was established by Sony Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Toshiba and Nokia, and later joined by many other companies as Associate or Adopter members. Bluetooth is also IEEE 802.15.1.

Related Topics:
Ericsson - Bluetooth Special Interest Group - May 20 - 1999 - Sony Ericsson - IBM - Intel - Toshiba - Nokia - IEEE 802.15.1

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