What is Bluetooth?

Bluetooth is a network technology that connects mobile devices wirelessly over a short-range to form a personal area network (PAN). They use short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio waves within the range 2.400 to 2.485 GHz, instead of RS-232 data cables of wired PANs.

Features of Bluetooth

• Bluetooth technology was released in 1999 as Bluetooth 1.0, by Special Interest Group (SIG) who continues to manage it.

• It was initially standardized as IEEE 802.15.1.

• Mobile computing devices and accessories are connected wirelessly by Bluetooth using short-range, low-power, inexpensive radios.

• UHF radio waves within the range of 2.400 to 2.485 GHz are using for data communications.

• A PAN or a piconet can be created by Bluetooth within a 10 m radius.

• Presently, 2 to 8 devices may be connected.

• Bluetooth protocols allow devices within the range to find Bluetooth devices and connect with them. This is called pairing. Once, the devices are paired, they can transfer data securely.

• Bluetooth has lower power consumption and lower implementation costs than Wi-Fi. However, the range and transmission speeds are typically lower than Wi-Fi.

• The lower power requirements make it less susceptible to interference with other wireless devices in the same 2.4GHz bandwidth.

• Bluetooth version 3.0 and higher versions can deliver a data rate of 24 Mbps.

• The Bluetooth version 4.0 came in 2010. It is characterized by low energy consumption, multivendor interoperability, the economy of implementation, and greater range.