BLUETOOTH

Bluetooth technology offers convenient wireless freedom and

almost universal flexibility, all within the most cutting-edge
devices.

Bluetooth technology is how mobile phones, computers,

and personal digital assistants (PDAs), not to mention a
broad selection of other devices such as printers and
speakers, can be easily interconnected using a short-
range wireless connection. Now you can coordinate any
Bluetooth enabled device and leave wired clutter and
confusion behind.

WONDER HOW BLUETOOTH ACTUALLY WORKS?

In the past, electronic devices would require a variety of wires, cables, radio
signals, connectors and plugs in order to operate. Today, Bluetooth
technology streamlines the process and enables you to enjoy your favorite
electronic devices – wire-free.
Bluetooth technology also doesn’t require much battery power to operate,
and can handle both data and voice transmissions at the same time. For
example, you could enjoy a hands-free chat on your mobile phone while
sending a document wirelessly to a Bluetooth enabled printer or fax
machine. It also allows you to sync up your PDA, laptop, and mobile phone
applications to one central location.

From its very inception, Bluetooth technology was designed with security
needs in mind
In today's wireless world data is being sent invisibly from device to device,
country to country, person to person. That data comes in the form of e-mails,
photos, contacts and addresses, and is precious and private to each of us.
Wireless standards around the world are evolving and have various formats
for dealing with the security issues of its users. Bluetooth wireless
technology is no exception. Since Bluetooth is globally available in the open
2.4 GHz ISM band, robustness was built in from the beginning. For your
protection, Bluetooth technology has built-in security such as 128-bit
encryption and PIN code authentication.

There are three modes of security for Bluetooth access between two devices.
• Security Mode 1: non-secure
• Security Mode 2: service level enforced security
• Security Mode 3: link level enforced security
•
The manufacturer of each product determines these security modes. Devices
and services also have different security levels. For devices, there are two
levels: "trusted device" and "untrusted device." A trusted device, having
been paired with one's other device, has unrestricted access to all services.
With regard to services, three security levels are defined: services that
require authorization and authentication, services that require authentication
only and services that are open to all devices.
USES:
Bluetooth is a radio standard and communications protocol primarily
designed for low power consumption, with a short range (power-class-
dependent: 1 metre, 10 metres, 100 m)[1] based on low-cost transceiver
microchips in each device.
Bluetooth lets these devices communicate with each other when they are in
range. The devices use a radio communications system, so they do not have
to be in line of sight of each other, and can even be in other rooms, as long
as the received transmission is powerful enough.

Class Maximum Permitted Range

Power (approximate)
 (mW/dBm)
Class
100 mW (20 dBm) ~100 meters
1
Class
2.5 mW (4 dBm) ~10 meters
2
Class
1 mW (0 dBm) ~1 meter
3

BLUETOOTH PROFILES:
In order to use Bluetooth, a device must be compatible with certain
Bluetooth profiles. These define the possible applications and uses.

LIST OF APPLICATIONS:
More prevalent applications of Bluetooth include:
• Wireless control of and communication between a cell phone and a
hands-free headset or car kit. This was one of the earliest applications
to become popular.
• Wireless networking between PCs in a confined space and where little
bandwidth is required.
• Wireless communications with PC input and output devices, the most
common being the mouse, keyboard and printer.
• Transfer of files between devices with OBEX.
• Transfer of contact details, calendar appointments, and reminders
between devices with OBEX.
• Replacement of traditional wired serial communications in test
equipment, GPS receivers, medical equipment and traffic control
devices.
• For controls where infrared was traditionally used.
• Sending small advertisements from Bluetooth enabled advertising
hoardings to other, discoverable, Bluetooth devices.
• Seventh-generation game consoles—Nintendo Wii[2], Sony
PlayStation 3—use Bluetooth for their respective wireless controllers.
• Remote management of sex toys.
 BLUETOOTH VS. Wi-Fi IN NETWORKING:
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi both have their places in today's offices, homes, and on
the move: setting up networks, printing, or transferring presentations and
files from PDAs to computers.

BLUETOOTH:

Bluetooth is implemented in a variety of new products such as

phones, printers, modems, and headsets. Bluetooth is acceptable for
situations when two or more devices are in proximity to each other and don't
require high bandwidth. Bluetooth is most commonly used with phones and
hand-held computing devices, either using a Bluetooth headset or
transferring files from phones/PDAs to computers.
Bluetooth also simplifies the discovery and setup of services. Bluetooth
devices advertise all services they provide. This makes the utility of the
service that much more accessible, without the need to worry about network
addresses, permissions and all the other considerations that go with typical
networks.

Wi-Fi:

Wi-Fi is more analogous to the traditional Ethernet network and

requires configuration to set up shared resources, transmit files, set up audio
links.It uses the same radio frequencies as Bluetooth, but with higher power
output resulting in a stronger connection. Wi-Fi is sometimes called
"wireless Ethernet." Although this description is inaccurate, it provides an
indication of its relative strengths and weaknesses. Wi-Fi requires more
setup, but is better suited for operating full-scale networks because it enables
a faster connection, better range from the base station, and better security
than Bluetooth.
One method for comparing the efficiency of wireless transmission protocols
such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi is spatial capacity, or bits per second per square
meter.
FUTURE OF BLUETOOTH:
 • Broadcast Channel: enables Bluetooth information points. This will
drive the adoption of Bluetooth into cell phones, and enable
advertising models based around users pulling information from the
information points, and not based around the object push model that is
used in a limited way today.
• Topology Management: enables the automatic configuration of the
piconet topologies especially in scatternet situations that are becoming
more common today. This should all be invisible to the users of the
technology, while also making the technology just work.
• Alternate MAC PHY: enables the use of alternative MAC and PHY's
for transporting Bluetooth profile data. The Bluetooth Radio will still
be used for device discovery, initial connection and profile
configuration, however when lots of data needs to be sent, the high
speed alternate MAC PHY's will be used to transport the data. This
means that the proven low power connection models of Bluetooth are
used when the system is idle, and the low power per bit radios are
used when lots of data needs to be sent.
• QoS improvements: enable audio and video data to be transmitted at a
higher quality, especially when best effort traffic is being transmitted
in the same piconet.
Bluetooth technology already plays a part in the rising Voice over IP (VOIP)
scene, with Bluetooth headsets being used as wireless extensions to the PC
audio system. As VOIP becomes more popular, and more suitable for
general home or office users than wired phone lines, Bluetooth may be used
in cordless handsets, with a base station connected to the Internet link.

BLUETOOTH 3.0:

The next version of Bluetooth after v2.1, code-named Seattle, that will be
called Bluetooth 3.0, has many of the same features, but is most notable for
plans to adopt ultra-wideband (UWB) radio technology. This will allow
Bluetooth use over UWB radio, enabling very fast data transfers of up to 480
Mbit/s, while building on the very low-power idle modes of Bluetooth.