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