| If you already have a wireless network for | | | | Bluetooth?Mobile phones with Bluetooth are |
| your computers, you may be very interested in | | | | very popular, and so are PDAs -- the instant |
| what's coming next. Would you like it if your | | | | synchronisation of addresses and calendars to |
| PDA, your mobile phone, your mp3 player and | | | | a computer is a useful feature. Other than |
| almost everything else you connect to your | | | | that, almost anything that would usually use |
| computer could be wireless too? It's already | | | | USB can be done using Bluetooth, including |
| a reality...Personal Area Network.Using | | | | digital cameras, mp3 players, printers, and |
| wireless networking with your personal | | | | even mice and keyboards. If you take a look |
| gadgets is often called PAN, which stands for | | | | through the comprehensive list of Bluetooth |
| Personal Area Network. The idea is that, in | | | | 'profiles' (kinds of devices that could, in |
| the future, we'll all have laptop computers | | | | theory, be Bluetooth enabled), it includes |
| with their batteries charged and no more need | | | | cordless phones, faxes, headsets, and even |
| to connect any wires to them at all -- you | | | | video.Basically, more than anything, |
| just place your Bluetooth device near the | | | | Bluetooth is a replacement for USB: some say |
| computer, and the computer sees it and can | | | | that while 802.11 wireless networking is |
| use it straightaway.Bluetooth has been around | | | | wireless Ethernet, Bluetooth is wireless |
| and in-use since 1999, and it's only getting | | | | USB.Not Just for Computers.Part of the power |
| more popular. It was designed to be secure, | | | | of Bluetooth is that it isn't just used to |
| low cost, and easy to use from day one.There | | | | connect things to computers -- it can be used |
| are two classes of Bluetooth that are in | | | | to connect almost anything to anything else, |
| popular use: class 1 and class 2. Class 2 is | | | | if both things are Bluetooth-enabled and |
| the most common and cheaper standard, | | | | recognise each other.Mobile phones, in |
| allowing you to use a device that is up to 10 | | | | particular, take advantage of this. |
| metres (32 feet) away. Class 1 is rarer, but | | | | Hands-free headsets often use Bluetooth to |
| you can still find devices that use it easily | | | | communicate with the phone. Some cars, for |
| enough, and it has ten times the range: 100 | | | | example, now have on-board computers that |
| metres or 320 feet.How Does It Work?Bluetooth | | | | will connect with a Bluetooth phone and allow |
| is more flexible than 802.11 wireless | | | | you to make hands-free calls, regardless of |
| networking, in exchange for the shorter | | | | where the phone is in the car (even if you've |
| range. Essentially, a Bluetooth-enabled | | | | left it in your bag in the trunk!)On top of |
| computer has one Bluetooth receiver installed | | | | that, of course, Bluetooth devices can |
| in it, and this receiver can then be used | | | | communicate with each other. This has led to |
| with up to 7 nearby Bluetooth devices. On the | | | | some people sending messages from their |
| other end, wireless devices do not need to | | | | Bluetooth PDAs to others in close range -- |
| have Bluetooth installed if they support it | | | | not an especially useful feature, but quite |
| -- it is already integrated.Like 802.11, | | | | fun. This is called 'bluejacking', and the |
| Bluetooth works by using radio signals to | | | | first recorded instance of it was a man who |
| create bandwidth. It is not, though, the same | | | | sent a Bluetooth message to another man's |
| thing as an old-style wireless mouse or | | | | Nokia phone while they were in a bank |
| keyboard, which required a receiver to be | | | | together. What did the message say? 'Buy |
| plugged into one of your computers' ports, | | | | Ericsson'.Since then, it has become possible |
| and didn't have range or stability anywhere | | | | to send images by bluejacking, and it is |
| near that of Bluetooth.Many computers now | | | | widely believed to be the newest advertising |
| come with built in Bluetooth, especially | | | | medium -- yes, it lets billboards send |
| Apple Macs. If you want to add Bluetooth to a | | | | messages to your phone, a practice known as |
| computer that doesn't come with it | | | | 'bluecasting'. Whether you think that's cool |
| pre-installed, you should probably use a USB | | | | or annoying, of course, is your choice.Joe |
| to Bluetooth adapter, although internal | | | | Byrne is a computer specialist specializing |
| Bluetooth devices to install in your computer | | | | in network communications and Voice over |
| are available. If you have a laptop and a | | | | Internet Protocol. Click on Voice over |
| spare PCMCIA slot, you can get Bluetooth | | | | Internet Protocol for more information on |
| cards for that too.What Can You Do With | | | | VoIP. |