So the next time you go shopping for a new digital tool, don’t shrug or offer blank stares when the salesperson mentions Bluetooth capabilities because this wireless standard could change your digital world in a big way.
Bluetooth Primer You’ve heard a lot about wireless networking, a generalized technology that lets you create a home or office LAN (local-area network) using radio waves. Many people confuse Bluetooth with these kinds of networking standards, but the reality is that Bluetooth is a different technology with different aims.
In short, Bluetooth is a short-range radio frequency standard that’s designed to replace cables. It’s not meant to be a long-range, high-bandwidth beast like Wi-Fi; instead, Bluetooth lets you efficiently and easily transfer blocks of data to and from small digital devices, such as PDAs, keyboards, cameras, printers, headsets, speakers, cell phones, and much more. Setting up communications between these devices lets you create a PAN (personal-area network) that works in just your small space of the world.
 Did your printer come with just an old-fashioned USB cable? If so, you can add a Bluetooth adapter, like this one from D-Link, and arm your printer with wireless capability. |
One of Bluetooth’s greatest strengths is the ease in which it creates a connection between two Bluetooth-capable devices. Unlike Wi-Fi, which often requires you to manually locate a radio signal and then authenticate your identity, to create a Bluetooth PAN, all you have to do is bring the two products within range of each other. Then the wizardry behind Bluetooth automatically decides which device should be in control. For example, your PDA would establish control over a printer, letting you send documents or images for quick printing.
Cost and space efficiency are two more Bluetooth strengths. The receiver/transmitter components that make up a Bluetooth unit cost less than $20, so they don’t add lot to the price of the devices you use. What’s more, these radio components are so tiny that creative product engineers can squeeze them into a multitude of devices without breaking a sweat. And just about any device that uses cables or infrared light to transfer data can also use an add-on Bluetooth adapter.
Finally, Bluetooth’s lack of range serves a serious purpose. Because the signals extend only about 30 feet, the possibility of interference with other devices drops significantly. Plus, Bluetooth uses frequency hopping to rapidly cycle through different radio frequencies, preventing interference with baby monitors, garage door openers, and other products that share the 2.45GHz frequency.
Security concerns. If you think Bluetooth sounds too cutesy to use any sort of security, you’re wrong. The Bluetooth standard uses data encryption algorithms, as well as a variety of authentication options.
That doesn’t mean Bluetooth security is perfect. Smart hackers can use their own radio devices to snag contact and other personal data from your phone or PDA. In the right situations, a hacker could even covertly turn your Bluetooth-capable phone into a listening device and eavesdrop on your conversations. And other tech-savvy users could track you by following your Bluetooth signal.
Fortunately, many such hacking schemes require a great deal of technical knowledge, a lot of motivation, and, in some cases, very expensive or difficult-to-construct hardware. In addition, only certain models of phones and other devices are particularly vulnerable to attack. Before you buy a new Bluetooth device, perform a few Web searches to see if the product is susceptible to security attacks and whether there are fixes to make your data more secure.
 You don’t have to buy any fancy equipment to add Bluetooth connectivity to your PC. Linksys makes a Bluetooth adapter that plugs into your USB port. |
With Teeth As Bluetooth becomes more popular, it will also get faster and more secure. In late 2004, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group approved an updated version called Bluetooth EDR (Enhanced Data Rate). Bluetooth EDR transfers data at about 3Mbps, uses less power than old Bluetooth components, and is also backward compatible with older Bluetooth products. Products with Bluetooth EDR began shipping to retail outlets this year.
Bluetooth engineers have even bigger plans for the standard in 2006. They hope to make Bluetooth capable of multicasting, which basically means that one Bluetooth device will be able to send data to multiple devices without the need to repeat the message over and over again, a tactic that conserves bandwidth and computing power. What’s more, Bluetooth developers hope to extend the standard’s range by 10 times, to approximately 300 feet.
Engineers also plan to continually improve Bluetooth security. This year, the newest versions of Bluetooth will use much more detailed alphanumeric combinations to strengthen encryption efforts. And in 2006 Bluetooth should be sealed tightly enough so that when you put your device in nondiscoverable mode, even advanced hackers won’t be able to locate and access your hardware.
Get The Blues The next time you find yourself wrestling with the wires of your MP3 player or wishing for a better way to transfer data to a co-worker’s PDA, remember that Bluetooth can solve all of these problems and more. If you’ve been putting off investing in Bluetooth technology because you were leery of this technology, now’s the time to take the plunge.
by Nathan Chandler
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