Bluetooth Description
Here is a short description of Bluetooth Technology:
Bluetooth technology is a short range wireless radio technology that allows electronic devices to connect to each other. It essentially is a cable-replacement technology. It allows two Bluetooth enabled devices to communicate with each other from a distance of 30 feet apart.
The popularity of Bluetooth wireless technology continues to increase substanially. Now consumers are specifically looking for Bluetooth technology to be included in all the products they buy.
What is Bluetooth Technology
The short description: Bluetooth technology is a global short-range wireless standard that allows a broad range of electronic devices to connect and communicate with each other. Bluetooth technology is essentially a cable-replacement technology. From mobile phones and headsets to MP3 players, PCs and peripherals, Bluetooth technology allows these devices to connect.
Solving Problems
Problem: Today, electronics that connect to one another are found everywhere--in the office, home, Car, etc. Keyboards connect to computers, MP3 players to headphones and so on. So, how do these devices connect to each other? Usually the answer is: with wires and cables. But, as you know, wires and cables always result in a tangled mess.
Solution: Bluetooth wireless technology eliminates many of the wires that clutter our offices, homes, etc., while allowing our electronic devices of today and tomorrow to communicate with one another.
You Hear About it Everywhere
Bluetooth technology has been around for years, however for many people it is just another “tech” term.
Most people have little or no understanding of the technology and have very little knowledge of its applications. However, you hear and read about it everywhere--in ads for computers, Cell Phones, smartphones and various other devices.
Look Mom: No Wires!
What is Bluetooth technology? Put simply, Bluetooth technology is a short-range wireless radio technology that allows electronic devices to connect to one another. Generally, Bluetooth has a range of up to 30 ft. or greater, depending on the Bluetooth Core Specification Version. Newer devices, using newer versions of Bluetooth, have ranges over 100 ft.
Bluetooth wireless technology makes connections just like cables connect a computer to a keyboard, mouse, or printer, or how a wire connects an MP3 player to headphones.
Bluetooth technology makes these same connections, except it does it without the cables and wires. With Bluetooth there is no more worrying about which cable goes where, while getting tangled in the mess.
To learn more about the advantages of wireless technology, click: Wireless Advantages
Setting the Standard
Bluetooth technology is actually derived from a combination of wireless technologies. The Bluetooth specification unites these technologies under the title: "Bluetooth technology".
Bluetooth technology was first developed by Ericsson and then formalized by a group of electronics manufacturers (Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Nokia, and Toshiba) who joined forces to form a private trade association known as the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG).
When they formally introduced the Bluetooth specification to the public, they established a global standard, thus creating a universal way for mobile computers, cell phones, and various other devices to wirelessly connect with one another.
Due to the fact that Bluetooth technology is a standardized wireless technology, you can rest assure it will be around for many years to come.
So, now that we've answered the question: "What is Bluetooth technology?" You probably want to know why this wireless technology was given such a funny name: "Bluetooth".
How Bluetooth Works
Connecting Devices
In order to understand how Bluetooth technology works, we must first take a look at how electronic devices (Bluetooth or not) connect and communicate with one another.
There are several questions that need to be addressed before any two devices can communicate with one another.
Q: Will the devices communicate via wires or through the air?
A: Obviously, if the devices are using Bluetooth technology, they will communicate without wires. However, if the devices are not Bluetooth enabled, then they have the option of communicating either with or without wires. Devices can take advantage of several wireless technologies (Bluetooth included) by using various transmitters to send information over the airwaves.
Q: How will messages or information be sent between the two devices?
A: Information can be sent one bit at a time in a scheme called serial communications, or in groups of bits (usually 8 or 16 at a time) in a scheme called parallel communications.
Q: How will devices in this “electronic conversation” know what the information (bits or groups of bits) means? How will they know if they received the same message that was sent?
A: Most of the time these questions are answered by the creation of what is known as a protocol. A protocol is a standard that controls or enables the connection, communication, and data transfer between two electrical devices. Basically, a protocol is the "language" of devices.
With so many different types of electronics available, it is probably no surprise that there are tons of established protocols. However, almost all protocols address one or more of the following:
* Detecting the presence of other devices
* Establishing communications guidelines between two devices (AKA: Handshaking)
* Determining the various connection characteristics
* How to format a message
* How to start and end a message
* What to do with corrupted or incorrectly formatted messages
* How to recognize unexpected connection loss, and what to do next
* Ending the connection or “conversation”
Some types of products have a standard protocol used by almost all companies. As a result, the commands for one product will have the same effect on another. However, there are other devices that use their own specific protocol, which means that commands intended for one specific device will seem foreign if received by another.
The goal of Bluetooth is to establish a worldwide, universal "language" for devices. Bluetooth uses a standardized wireless protocol for devices to communicate. It forces devices to agree on when bits are sent, how many will be sent at a time, and how the devices in a conversation can be sure that the message received is the same as the message sent. So, you can be positive that any two devices using compatible Bluetooth will definitely be able to communicate with one another.
Bluetooth Security
Bluetooth Technology Faces Security Threats
Today, all communication technologies are facing the issue of privacy and identity theft. Bluetooth technology is no exception. The information and data we share through these communication technologies is both private and in many cases, critically important to us.
Everyone knows that email services, company networks, and home networks all require security measures. What Bluetooth users need to realize, is: Bluetooth requires similar security measures.
Recently, Bluetooth technology has been popping up in the news. Unfortunately, most of the news involves confusion and misinformation regarding the security of Bluetooth. Recent reports have surfaced describing ways for hackers to crack Bluetooth devices security codes.
Are the Threats Serious?
The good news: most of the recent Bluetooth security scares, like most scares, are over-dramatized and blown out of proportion. The truth is, these issues are easily combatable, and various measures are already in place to provide for the secure use of Bluetooth technology.
Yes, it is true: there have been some Bluetooth cell phones that have been hacked into. However, it is most likely the case that those who have experienced these security breaches have not taken the appropriate precautions to protect their devices.
According to the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), in order to break into a Bluetooth device, a hacker must:
- Force two paired Bluetooth devices to break their connection
- Steal the packets used to resend the PIN, then
- Decode the PIN
The hacker must of course be within range of the Bluetooth device and, according to the Bluetooth SIG, be using very expensive developers’ equipment. The SIG suggests users create a longer PIN (8 digit is recommended).
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