An Important Role of Bluetooth And The Driver

Put simply, Bluetooth is a short-range-radio technical standard for protocols that facilitate communication between wireless devices such as mobile phones, PDAs (personal digital assistants) and handheld computers, and wireless computers and peripherals.

The Bluetooth wireless mouse and the Bluetooth wireless mobile phone headset are good examples. Switch on your Bluetooth-enabled phone and it can quickly be paired up with a Bluetooth-enabled headset. A Bluetooth mouse doesn't need wires to move the curser about your screen and execute commands.

As long as the devices remain within about 10 meters of one another, the headset and the mouse will work nicely without any obnoxious wires getting in your way.

For drivers, Bluetooth could be a saviour, especially if teamed up with voice recognition technology. Imagine a world in which you place your mobile in its holder on the dash and tell it to dial a number while you listen on your sleek and very discreet headset - a godsend in countries or states that prohibit use of hand-held mobiles while driving.

New York-based Frost and Sullivan, marketing consultants who specialize in information and intelligence on emerging high-technology, reckon that by 2010, more than 16% of all cars sold in North America will have Bluetooth technology installed. The current level is about 2.5%. They reckon that in total, almost a billion Bluetooth devices will ship by 2010.

More and more we're carrying our electronic information devices with us: mobile phones, handheld computers, MP3 players, and even DVD players. A society that is hooked on being connected wants to be connected everywhere - in our homes, at the office, in the car and even when we're walking about. And if this is what we want, Bluetooth technology is a very likely candidate for making it happen.

However, there's another key technology that will likely work with Bluetooth to make it safe and convenient: voice recognition software.

This technology will enable drivers to talk to their Bluetooth -enabled devices rather than having to take their eyes off the road to push buttons and twist knobs. In addition, voice recognition technology could possibly enable automakers to do away with expensive screens or touch input displays.

Another interesting twist is that 'voice biometrics' can be an effective way to determine who's driving the vehicle. Once voice recognition technology is installed in a car it can be used to personalize the vehicle, setting seat position, radio stations, etc. to the driver's preferences.

The Power Behind Bmw Bluetooth

You can get more from your ultimate sound system for your ultimate driving machine, with BMW Bluetooth kits. A BMW bluetooth adapter enables you to get more from your sound system than you dreamed possible.

Hang Up and Drive

In today’s frenetically-paced world, there are few of us that can afford to be out of touch for any length of time, which means having a cell phone ready at all times - including drive time. Unfortunately, driving and cell phones don’t always mix, and sometimes, the consequences can be fatal. In response, more states and municipalities are passing strict laws prohibiting the use of cell phones by a driver while a vehicle is in motion.

The Hands-Free Solution

BMW Bluetooth is a great solution for those who need to be reachable during drive time. A BMW Bluetooth kit from Bavarian Soundwerks uses genuine BMW components and utilizes OEM wiring and components for a “hands-off” solution. BMW Bluetooth enables you to activate, make and accept incoming calls on your cell phone without ever having to remove it from your pocket or even touch it!

A New Use for an Old Technology

The first experiments with radio waves date back to the late1880s, when Nikola Tesla and Gugliemo Marconi began early attempts to achieve wireless communication. However, it took almost thirty years before the first real radio was made available to the public.

BMW Bluetooth technology is based on the work of two Swedish engineers starting in the 1990s. It is essentially the use of low frequency, low bandwidth radio waves that allows an astonishing variety of digital devices to “talk” to each other.

Today, Bluetooth is used to network personal computers, printers, modems, digital cameras, and even game consoles. The first use however was for “hands free” devices that would allow drivers to use cell phones safely while the car was in motion.

It’s Fully Integrated

With a BMW Bluetooth retrofit or installation kit, your cell phone can actually “talk” to - and through - your car’s radio. If your cell phone supports such features (and most newer ones do), you’ll even be able to activate your phone with voice commands and display data (such as phone numbers) on your vehicle’s instrument displays!

It works both ways, as well. You won’t miss incoming calls because you’re listening to music or other programming through your radio; BMW Bluetooth technology allows your cell phone to automatically mute whatever is on the radio when a call is made or received.

Easy and Affordable

A BMW Bluetooth installation or retrofit kit from Bavarian Soundwerks is affordable and easy to install. You’ll receive clear, simple instructions with your kit, and all necessary parts are included.

Contact Bavarian Soundwerks today - with just a few bits of information about your BMW 3 Series, 5 Series or X5 vehicle, they’ll have the right BMW Bluetooth kit in your hands in no time.

Technical information Of Bluetooth

Bluetooth has a lot to offer with an increasingly difficult market place. Bluetooth helps to bring with it the promise of freedom from the cables and simplicity in networking that has yet to be matched by LAN (Local Area Network).

In the key marketplace, of wireless and handheld devices, the closest competitor to Bluetooth is infrared. Infrared holds many key features, although the line of sight it provides doesn't go through walls or through obstacles like that of the Bluetooth technology.

Unlike infrared, Bluetooth isn't a line of sight and it provides ranges of up to 100 meters. Bluetooth is also low power and low processing with an overhead protocol. What this means, is that it's ideal for integration into small battery powered devices. To put it short, the applications with Bluetooth are virtually endless.

Disadvantages

Bluetooth has several positive features and one would be extremely hard pressed to find downsides when given the current competition. The only real downsides are the data rate and security. Infrared can have data rates of up to 4 MBps, which provides very fast rates for data transfer, while Bluetooth only offers 1 MBps.

For this very reason, infrared has yet to be dispensed with completely and is considered by many to be the complimentary technology to that of Bluetooth. Infrared has inherent security due to its line of sight.

The greater range and radio frequency (RF) of Bluetooth make it much more open to interception and attack. For this reason, security is a very key aspect to the Bluetooth specification.

Although there are very few disadvantages, Bluetooth still remains the best for short range wireless technology. Those who have tried it love it, and they know for a fact that Bluetooth will be around for years to come.

Communication and connection

A master Bluetooth device can communicate with up to seven devices. This network group of up to eight devices is called a piconet.

A piconet is an ad-hoc computer network, using Bluetooth technology protocols to allow one master device to interconnect with up to seven active devices. Up to 255 further devices can be inactive, or parked, which the master device can bring into active status at any time.

At any given time, data can be transferred between the master and one other device, however, the devices can switch roles and the slave can become the master at any time. The master switches rapidly from one device to another in a round-robin fashion. (Simultaneous transmission from the master to multiple other devices is possible, but not used much.)

Bluetooth specification allows connecting two or more piconets together to form a scatternet, with some devices acting as a bridge by simultaneously playing the master role and the slave role in one piconet. These devices are planned for 2007.

Many USB Bluetooth adapters are available, some of which also include an IrDA adapter. Older (pre-2003) Bluetooth adapters, however, have limited services, offering only the Bluetooth Enumerator and a less-powerful Bluetooth Radio incarnation. Such devices can link computers with Bluetooth, but they do not offer much in the way of services that modern adapters do.

Setting up connections

Any Bluetooth device will transmit the following information on demand:

• Device name.
• Device class.
• List of services.
• Technical information, for example, device features, manufacturer, Bluetooth specification used, clock offset.

Any device may perform an inquiry to find other devices to connect to, and any device can be configured to respond to such inquiries. However, if the device trying to connect knows the address of the device, it always responds to direct connection requests and transmits the information shown in the list above if requested. Use of device services may require pairing or acceptance by its owner, but the connection itself can be initiated by any device and held until it goes out of range. Some devices can be connected to only one device at a time, and connecting to them prevents them from connecting to other devices and appearing in inquiries until they disconnect from the other device.

Every device has a unique 48-bit address. However these addresses are generally not shown in inquiries. Instead, friendly Bluetooth names are used, which can be set by the user. This name appears when another user scans for devices and in lists of paired devices.

Most phones have the Bluetooth name set to the manufacturer and model of the phone by default. Most phones and laptops show only the Bluetooth names and special programs that are required to get additional information about remote devices. This can be confusing as, for example, there could be several phones in range named T610 (see Bluejacking).

Pairing

Pairs of devices may establish a trusted relationship by learning (by user input) a shared secret known as a passkey. A device that wants to communicate only with a trusted device can cryptographically authenticate the identity of the other device. Trusted devices may also encrypt the data that they exchange over the airwaves so that no one can listen in. The encryption can, however, be turned off, and passkeys are stored on the device file system, not on the Bluetooth chip itself. Since the Bluetooth address is permanent, a pairing is preserved, even if the Bluetooth name is changed. Pairs can be deleted at any time by either device. Devices generally require pairing or prompt the owner before they allow a remote device to use any or most of their services. Some devices, such as mobile phones, usually accept OBEX business cards and notes without any pairing or prompts.

Certain printers and access points allow any device to use its services by default, much like unsecured Wi-Fi networks. Pairing algorithms are sometimes manufacturer-specific for transmitters and receivers used in applications such as music and entertainment.

Air interface

The protocol operates in the license-free ISM band at 2.4-2.4835 GHz. To avoid interfering with other protocols that use the 2.45 GHz band, the Bluetooth protocol divides the band into 79 channels (each 1 MHz wide) and changes channels up to 1600 times per second. Implementations with versions 1.1 and 1.2 reach speeds of 723.1 kbit/s. Version 2.0 implementations feature Bluetooth Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) and reach 2.1 Mbit/s. Technically, version 2.0 devices have a higher power consumption, but the three times faster rate reduces the transmission times, effectively reducing power consumption to half that of 1.x devices (assuming equal traffic load)

Bluetooth GPS Receiver

If you are looking for ways to convert your smart phone or PDA into a satellite navigation tool, then a suitable GPS software and a GPS receiver is necessary. The best thing about a Bluetooth GPS receiver is that it will connect to your PDA or smart phone wirelessly that is only if your PDA or smart phone has Bluetooth in order to do this.

A Bluetooth GPS receiver is usually portable so that it can be carried around effortlessly with minimum hassles. The receiver is a complete wireless satellite position system which works on the GPS communication Technology. Being highly sensitive and having a tracking sensitivity measurement of over 157dBm, enables quick receive time and functionality even in bad weather conditions. The receiver comes with a Lithium-Ion battery to enable long usage. The receiver is most ideal for use with the popular navigation software TomTom Navigator.

With the Bluetooth GPS receiver you can enjoy up to 30 channels at a frequency of L1, 1575.42MHz. Weighing at about 65gms the receiver is very light and portable. The battery life can go up to 15 hours once it is charged for about 2.5 hours.

Buying a sensitive gadget like the Bluetooth GPS receiver involves a little knowledge from experts of how to best use it. If you plan to buy such a gadget online then you would require a website which would offer you a quality product with extended battery life and a low price tag. Such websites like www.techfocus.co.uk can be trusted as they offer genuine products at a price that can surely fit into your budget.

Wep410 Bluetooth Headset by Samsung

Headsets with Bluetooth wireless technology are capable of working with a variety of other Bluetooth devices. Unlike other headsets, Bluetooth headsets do not require wires of any sort.

There are a wide range of Bluetooth headsets out there. What matters is the taste in styles and preferred features to which is right for you. One of them could be the Samsung WEP410 Bluetooth headset; with class and performance this Bluetooth headset is your perfect companion allowing you to talk effortless anywhere, anytime and in any situation. It is designed to perfectly complement the Samsung Bluetooth capable mobile phones. The WEP410 Bluetooth headset offers style and features that should make it a consideration for anyone looking to be cool and sleek.

The Samsung WEP410 Bluetooth headset provides a talk time of 4 hours and stand by time of 70 hours. The Samsung WEP410 Bluetooth headset handles calls with a multifunction button and control of the volume can be accessed from the headset itself. You get voice dialing support with the Samsung WEP410 Bluetooth headset and can be used with cellular phones having the voice dial capabilities. It is small and light weighing about 7.WEP410 is a pioneer at only 4g and operating at a distance of up to 30 feet. So you can walk and talk with out having your phone with you.

So whenever you buy a Bluetooth headset you should make sure you are buying the right thing. The weight of the Bluetooth headset you are going to buy is important. The Samsung WEP410 is a wonderful device; it gives you freedom from the messy cables and creates connection between you and your personal computer or mobile phone wirelessly. A small and comfortable device in your ear can make a difference in your lifestyle. The quality the voice in a Bluetooth headset device is simple crystal clear.

The Samsung WEP410 Bluetooth headset is the next generation of wireless peripherals. The number of advantages in choosing a Bluetooth headset is you can use it with any Bluetooth enabled device and you can both use it in the comforts of your home and office. The Samsung WEP410 Bluetooth headset device is on the cutting edge technology. Bluetooth wireless technology makes lives much easier but especially the WEP410 by Samsung. The Samsung WEP410 Bluetooth headset makes it easy when you are in the house at the same time preparing your food or making some small repairs in your house. You can use it when you are jogging, walking your dog and when you are driving your kids to school.

There are so many things that you can do with the Samsung WEP410 Bluetooth headset. It is a hands free device to doing the multi-tasking moments you would want to do to get things done in a flash and even enjoy doing it. If you want to walk and talk you better think twice.

Bluetooth Wireless Operation

The networking standards of Bluetooth will transmit data via low power radio frequency. Bluetooth communicates on a 2.45 GHz frequency. This very band of frequency has been set aside by international agreement for the use of industrial and medical devices.

Many devices that you already known and use take advantage of this frequency band. Garage door openers, baby monitors, and the next generation of mobile phones all use this frequency within the ISM band. Ensuring that Bluetooth and the other devices don't interfere with each other is a crucial part of the design process.

One of the ways Bluetooth will avoid interfering with other electronic devices is by sending out weak signals of around 1 mw. In comparison, even the most powerful of cell phones can transmit a signal of 3 watts.

The low power signals will limit the range of a Bluetooth device to around 32 feet, which cut the chances of interference between your computer and other electronic devices. Even though it has low power, Bluetooth doesn't require a line of sight between the communicating devices. The walls in your home won't stop the signal, making it great for rooms throughout the house.

Bluetooth can connect 8 devices at the same time. With each of those devices on the same radius, you may think they would interfere with each other, although it's very unlikely. Bluetooth utilizes a technique known as low frequency hopping, which makes it harder for more than one device to transmit on the same frequency at the same time.

With this technique, a device will use 79 individual, randomly chosen frequencies within a designated range, which change from one another on a regular basis.

In the case of Bluetooth, the transmitters will change frequency 1,600 times or more every second, meaning that more devices can make full use of the radio spectrum. Since every transmitter of Bluetooth will use spread spectrum automatically, it's very unlikely that two transmitters will be on the same frequency at the exact same time.

When the Bluetooth devices come within close range of each other, an electronic conversation will occur to determine whether or not they have data to share or whether one needs to take total control. The user doesn't have any buttons to press or commands to give - as the conversation will occur automatically.
Once the conversation has occured, the devices will form a network. Bluetooth devices will create a PAN (Personal Area Network) or piconet that may fill a room. Once the piconet has been established, the devices will randomly hop in frequencies.

Top 5 Coolest Uses for your Bluetooth Cell Phone

Did you know that the Bluetooth feature that came with your new cell phone has a lot more uses than just hooking up to a wireless headset? With a Bluetooth enabled cell phone, you can access the internet with a secure connection on your laptop - wherever you get a cell signal, use your phone as a digital camera, mp3 player, or just share your favorite files with friends and family. Now, its true that you can do these things before, but Bluetooth allows you to do it all wirelessly  without the need for messy cables and connectors.

However, not all Bluetooth phones are created equal. In order to do any of the cool stuff mentioned here, youre mobile phone has to support OBEX, which stands for Object Exchange. You see, the Bluetooth specifications allow for many different functions, such as connecting to headsets, sharing data, etc. One function  the one were discussing here, is OBEX, which allows your phone to exchange data wirelessly with other devices. Now, a certain cellular carrier (whom we will simply refer to as V), along with a few other manufacturers, have chosen to cripple the functionality of their phones by deliberately disabling OBEX. They do this for a number of reasons, but the end result is, if your phone doesnt support OBEX, you cant do any of these cool things. So, the next time you shop for a new cell phone, you may want to first check to make sure your Bluetooth is not crippled in any way before making a purchase. (By the way, even if the manufacturer has disabled OBEX, it may still be possible for users to enable it  do a web search to try and find a software fix for your phone. Of course, be aware that you may void your warranty if you screw up, so be careful!)

The top 5 coolest things you didn't know you could do with your Bluetooth cell phone.

1) Use your phone as a wireless modem for your laptop - surf the internet by connecting wirelessly through your cell phone. This is my top pick. Why spend extra for a cellular modem and separate data plan when Bluetooth lets you use your cell phone to connect wirelessly to the web? Many cellular companies offer some sort of data usage plan - for just a few bucks extra per month, you get unlimited data transfers. So, by installing the right scripts in your laptop, you can configure it to connect to your cell phone with Bluetooth for instant, wireless internet access. The real beauty of this setup is that, since most people already carry their cell phones with them, they can get a secure internet connection wherever they get a signal, and not worry about carrying adapters or having a special modem card. Also, I feel much safer using my own connection anyway, rather than rely on open public hotspots  especially when I want to access my bank accounts or other private sites. Every cell phone is different, so if you want to find out how to connect with yours, just google it. Try using the terms "how to use my (phone model) as a Bluetooth modem".

2) Take pictures on your camera phone and download it to your computer - without having to search for a cable or adapter. With today's camera phones packing as much as 3 or more megapixels, you may find it to be a very credible alternative to a standalone digital camera. So, the next time you're on vacation, or out with friends, and you just happened to forget to pack your camera, chances are you probably have your cell phone. Just snap away, and when you're done, use Bluetooth to download those pictures onto your laptop wirelessly.

3) Synchronize your contacts list with your computer - tired of manually entering all your names and numbers into your new cell phone? Just use Bluetooth to automatically synchronize your phone's contacts list with the one stored in your computer. No more having to use your phone's keypad to enter all that tedious information. What's more, your phone probably comes with software to automatically keep your contacts list up to date whenever phone is placed near your computer

4) Use your phone to play music, with stereo Bluetooth headphones - don't have, or don't want an IPod? Tired of carrying yet another gadget when you just want to listen to some music? Why not use your phone instead? Many come with slots for removable flash cards and music playback capabilities. Just pop a 4 or 6 GB memory card into your phone, and start downloading all those mp3s stored in your computer wirelessly, right to your phone. And, some of the newest phones also support stereo Bluetooth playback, allowing you to listen to your tunes with wireless stereo headphones.

5) Share your favorite pictures, songs, games, and ringtones stored in your phone with your friends by sending them wirelessly to their phone. Have a great ringtone, or some pictures you just took on your cameraphone that you want to share with a friend? Send it to them via Bluetooth, and never have to think about having the right cables to connect. Just make sure your friend's Bluetooth is turned On and Discoverable, and start sending.

So, there you have it. Some of the most useful and fun things you can do with your Bluetooth cell phone. And remember - you can't do any of these things unless your cell phone supports the Bluetooth OBEX, or file transfer, protocol. So, the next time you're shopping for a new mobile phone, just be sure to check first before spending your hard earned cash. With all the benefits Bluetooth provides, it's time for smart users to demand that manufacturers stop crippling our phones. Have fun

Infrared And Bluetooth: Connecting Things Easier

Different electrical devices produced everyday, the problem of connecting things is becoming more and more complex. The system that comprises the computers and other electronic devices makes use of varieties of connecting wires, cables and the likes. These parts communicate trough light beams, lasers, radio signals and infrared. However, the problem with this devices and technologies is often the connection between each component. Thus, most systems are not used to their full extent due to complexities.

To simplify things, a solution was created to streamline the process of connections- bluetooth.

Bluetooth is wireless and automatic and offers users with varieties of excellent features that has recreated the art of connection. It has revolutionized the standard method of connecting things that virtually anything can be connected on a single system. From computers to mobile phones and from keyboards to headphones by means of wireless, automatic and inexpensive connection.

Other than the bluetooth technology, there are other ways of connecting things. Take for example the infrared or IR. It allows low frequency light waves which the eye can no longer interpret to transmit signals to another component. The technology is easy to create and cost of incorporating the IR device into a system is in barest minimum. Yet it has limited operations that seldom obstructs the process of connection.

Infrared technology is one to one process. Due to this limitation, you may only send signals from one component to another, like the case of the television set and the remote control. The same is true between laptops and desktops. You may only transmit signals between the two but not with another separate system, say a PDA through simultaneous actions.

It also works only on the line of sight principle wherein one has to point the infrared device directly to the host system to achieve a desirable result.

In spite of the fact that these two natures of infrared technology are obstacles to acquiring results, these same qualities have worked in advantage to connection. Because infrared devices need to be lined up directly on opposing locations, too little interference occurs between transmitters and receivers. The one to one principle on the other hand is designed to transmit signals only to the original recipient. Given that there are varieties of infrared recipients in a location, the intended recipient alone will receive the signal coming from a transmitter.

However, technology was not contented with what infrared offers. They resolved these limitations through creating the bluetooth solution.

Bluetooth technology works by transmitting signals via low frequency radio signals. The path of communication is approximately working on 2.45 gigahertz. The same frequency band is utilized in ISM devices.

The design of the technology was such that it has created a new system that does not interfere with the other devices that make use of the same frequency band (e.g. ISM). One way of doing this is the programming of the bluetooth technology to only transmit signals that has 1 milliwatt or less. Beyond this, other systems may be affected. By comparison, cell phones and other mobile devices send signals at a rate of 3 milliwatts and more.

The standard range of the bluetooth is around ten meters. This lessens the possibility that interference between device may occur. With this low transmission, it is still possible for the user to transmit bluetooth signals between obstructing walls.

Bluetooth in many ways have contributed much in connecting individual systems without being bothered by the bulk of the cables and wires.

Bluetooth stack

A Bluetooth stack refers to an implementation of the Bluetooth protocol stack.

Bluetooth stacks can be roughly divided into two:

1. General-purpose implementations that are written with emphasis on feature-richness and flexibility, usually for desktop computers. Support for additional Bluetooth profiles can typically be added through drivers.
2. Embedded system implementations intended for use in devices where resources are limited and demands are lower, such as Bluetooth peripheral devices.

Generally, only a single stack can be used at any time: switching usually requires uninstalling the current stack, although a trace of previous stacks remains in the registry. However, there are some cases where two stacks can be used on the same computer, each using their own separate Bluetooth radio hardware

General-purpose implementations

Windows

Widcomm

Widcomm was the first Bluetooth stack for the Windows operating system. The stack was initially developed by a company named Widcomm Inc., which was acquired by Broadcom Corporation in April 2004. Broadcom continues to license the stack for inclusion with many Bluetooth-powered end-user devices.

An API is available for interacting with the stack from a custom application. For developers there is also a utility named BTServer Spy Lite bundled with the stack (some vendor-tied versions excluded) which monitors Bluetooth activity on the stack at a very low level - although the category and level of trace is configurable. Uniquely, this stack also allows use of RFCOMM without creating a virtual serial port in the operating system.

Microsoft Windows stack

Windows XP includes a built-in Bluetooth stack starting with the Service Pack 2 update, released on 2004-08-06.

Prior to this, Microsoft released a QFE of its Bluetooth stack for Windows XP Service Pack 1 labelled as QFE323183. Microsoft only released this directly to third-party companies and did not directly release it to the public. The third-party companies were then allowed to release the QFE as part of their own Bluetooth device's software installation. Microsoft no longer supports this QFE.

Windows Vista also includes a built-in Bluetooth stack which is an expansion over the Windows XP Bluetooth stack. In addition to supporting more Bluetooth profiles than Windows XP Service Pack 2, it also supports third-party driver development which enables third-parties to add support for additional Bluetooth Profiles. This was lacking in the Windows XP Service Pack 2 built-in Bluetooth stack, which only allowed application development on top of the Microsoft Bluetooth stack, which some observers felt slowed the adoption of the Microsoft Windows Bluetooth stack. This stack does however provide RFCOMM support using sockets instead of virtual serial ports.

Microsoft has not released an official Bluetooth stack for older Windows versions, such as Windows 2000 or Windows Me.

EtherMind stack

EtherMind is a Bluetooth protocol stack from MindTree's for embedded devices and host platforms.[citation needed] A non-disclosure agreement is required to obtain the API documentation.

Toshiba stack

Toshiba has created its own Bluetooth stack for use on Microsoft Windows. This stack is not the same as the Microsoft Windows Bluetooth stack but is its own version. Toshiba licenses their stack to other OEMs and has shipped with some Fujitsu Siemens,Dell and Sony laptops. A non-disclosure agreement must be signed to obtain the API.

BlueSoleil

BlueSoleil is a product of the IVT Corporation, which produces stacks for embedded devices and desktop systems. The stack is available in both standard and VOIP versions for Windows desktop operating system. The desktop version supports: DUN, FAX, HFP, HSP, LAP, OBEX, OPP, PAN SPP, AV, BIP, FTP, GAP, HID, SDAP, and SYNC. An API is freely available. The graphical user interface provided shows API activity in real time, which aids in software development.

Linux

The Linux operating system currently has two widespread Bluetooth stack implementations:

* BlueZ, included with the official Linux kernel distributions, initially developed by Qualcomm.
* Affix, developed by Nokia Research Center.

BlueZ

BlueZ is the official[citation needed] Bluetooth stack for Linux. Its goal is to make an implementation of the Bluetooth wireless standards specifications for Linux. As of 2006, the BlueZ stack supports all core Bluetooth protocols and layers.It was initially developed by Qualcomm, and is available for Linux kernel versions 2.4.6 and up.

In addition to the basic stack, the Bluez-utils and Bluez-firmware packages contain low level utilities such as dfutool which can interrogate the Bluetooth adapter chipset to determine whether its firmware can be upgraded.

hidd is the Bluetooth HID daemon

Embedded implementations

lwBT

lwBT is an open source lightweight Bluetooth protocol stack for embedded systems. It acts as a network interface for the lwIP protocol stack.

It supports some Bluetooth protocols and layers, such as the H4 and BCSP UART layers. Supported higher layers include: HCI, L2CAP, SDP, BNEP, RFCOMM and PPP. The supported profiles are: PAN (NAP, GN, PANU), LAP, DUN and Serial Port.

lwBT has been ported to the Renesas M16C and Atmega AVR line of microcontrollers, and Linux as well as Windows.

Windows CE

Windows CE is Microsoft's embedded operating system, which also supports Bluetooth. However, different stacks can be installed on windows CE devices, including Microsoft, Widcomm, and Toshiba, depending on the embedded device on which the OS is installed.

BlueLet

Also a product of IVT Corporation. DUN, FAX, HFP, HSP, LAP, OBEX, OPP, PAN and SPP are currently supported.

Bluetooth Technology: Hype Or A Glimpse Into The Future

Although the average consumer has only recently begun to discover the joys of Bluetooth technology, it has been around for quite a while now. The fact that it has been around means that there are quite a few products that are now able to support and utilize this technology and those numbers are growing each year. Currently you can find many Bluetooth supported laptops, cell phones, and PDAs.

The recently discovered technology that Bluetooth offers uses short range radio signals in order to replace wires and cables that were once required to transfer information from one device to another. The most hallowed capabilities of this technology is its use friendly lack of complexity, its ability to hold a true connection without constant interruptions, its lower power consumption, and its affordability. Bluetooth was made to operate in areas where 'noisy' frequencies often prevent other wireless connections to flourish. Bluetooth uses a fast acknowledgement and 'frequency hopping' application in order to maintain a smooth connection.

Bluetooth radio frequencies move at 2.4 GHz, which requires no licensing in order to use. Using this particular frequency allows the avoidance of interruptions from other frequencies and signals. Bluetooth radio also moves much more quickly than other similar systems because it utilizes shorter packets.

History of Bluetooth

Bluetooth can be traced to the King of Denmark from 949 to 981. Harold Bluetooth was famous for his ability to help people communicate with one another more effectively. The characters on the Bluetooth logo come from characters in the runic alphabet. The reference to this particular king is somehow appropriate as Bluetooth technology also accomplishes the often-difficult task of keeping people connected and communicating effectively.

Bluetooth.org defines Bluetooth as a worldwide specification low cost radio solution. This small factor enables the communication of mobile devices with one another.

Bluetooth operates by using 2.4 GHz radio signals that are very similar to those used in many cordless home phones and wireless networking systems. Bluetooth has found a manner in which to limit interference while improving the quality of the transmission because of its heavy reliance on this frequency range. Bluetooth version 1.1 has made leaps and bounds in progress and as a result is not backwards compatible with previous versions.

The maximum rate at which Bluetooth can transfer data is 723 kbps and a range of anywhere from 60 to 120 feet. Bluetooth can be used for a wide variety of applications. Some of the more common current applications include laptops, PDAs, headphones, and printer adapters. Many laptops have Bluetooth adapters built in so that the laptop can easily communicate with other Bluetooth enabled devices. You can also use many USB adaptors in order to communicate with devices that are not graced with a Bluetooth adaptor.

Another great benefit of Bluetooth is the fact that it allows PDAs to easily sync wirelessly as well as to transfer data. Bluetooth is useful in headphones for cell phones in particular to allow hands free, wireless cell phone communication while driving, working, or performing any number of tasks that require the use of your hands.

Many new gadgets are wireless through the technologies that Bluetooth has introduced. A Bluetooth mouse and/or keyboard can be used at a distance of up to 30 feet for those who need to be farther ways from the computer. Bluetooth printer adaptors are particularly useful as they allow multiple users in a network to share printer access without a snake pit of wires to really confuse things.

While Bluetooth is inexpensive to use, the main reason it isn't more widely used is the initial costs required to implement this technology. The initial costs of installing a Bluetooth system are somewhat prohibitive and most companies aren't prepared to make this sort of investment in emerging technology.

Bluetooth Wireless In Your Home Office

Bluetooth is a wireless communication protocol that provides a method of wirelessly exchanging data between bluetooth enabled devices. Unlike Wi-Fi which requires more power to operate and a separate configuration for each device, Bluetooth requires low power consumption, is relatively simple to use, and is designed for use in a much smaller area. A network of devices formed around Bluetooth is known as a PAN, or Personal Area Network.

While the technology has been around for over ten years and its use has steadily grown, still relatively few take full advantage of the many capabilities it presents. One excellent use of Bluetooth technology for the consumer is in the home office.

The conversion of a typical home office set up to wireless technology is fairly simple and straightforward. It is not required to have any programming skills or advanced computer skills in order to make it work.

In converting your home office to Bluetooth wireless, the first order of business is acquiring an adapter for your computer. This is a small device which plugs into the USB port of your computer and will allow your computer to communicate with Bluetooth components. Many of these adapters (or dongles) are similar in size to the popular USB flash drives. The adapter becomes the "master" and is capable of communicating with up to seven Bluetooth enabled devices. They are manufactured by many well known companies in the wireless field, such as D-link and Linksys, and are readily available.

Moving on, you may then want to consider a wireless mouse and keyboard. These devices must be purchased with Bluetooth technology pre-installed (there are no converters available for these components). There are a considerable number on the market and most work basically the same. Your choice should be one of personal preference and as these are separate devices it is not necessary to replace both. Several of the more popular models are made by Logitech and Microsoft.

Next step is the printer. While there are several newer printers on the market that are bluetooth enabled, many opt for a printer adapter which will do the same job. If you are in the market for a new printer, it makes sense to buy one that is already Bluetooth capable. If not, adapters are readily available for most printers. They are similar to the computer adapter in that they plug into the printers USB port. There are also several models available which will utilize the parallel port for older printers.

Congratulations - you have just set up your Personal Area Network. However, no more hassling with wires and cables is just the beginning. And this is where the real beauty and functionality of Bluetooth lies. You now have a PAN that will work well with any Bluetooth enabled device. Upload and download data from your PDA without wires. Wirelessly upload and print photos from a Bluetooth enabled digital camera. Print documents from your laptop with no cables. If you enjoy music while you work, Bluetooth enabled stereo headphones are available.

It is great technology with endless possibilities for both productivity and enjoyment.

Ten Reasons You Should Use Bluetooth

If you are one of the many people who wonder exactly what Bluetooth technology is, you're about to get a brief rundown.

1) Bluetooth provides the ability for items that often need to be hard wired to be completely wireless. It allows you to use your laptop, cell phones, and hand held computer without being limited by cords, wires, and connections. In other words, Bluetooth technology allows portable devices to be truly portable.
2) Bluetooth is a surprisingly affordable option when compared to similar technologies. Because Bluetooth is inexpensive for companies to utilize they are also willing to pass the savings along to consumers.
3) Perhaps the greatest thing about Bluetooth for the average consumer is the fact that it is easy to use. There are no complicated sequences of keys you have to learn in order to make use of your Bluetooth devices.
4) Another winning fact about Bluetooth devices is that they will work with other Bluetooth enabled devices. If you switch from a Motorola phone to a Samsung phone (provided they are both Bluetooth capable) you will not have to be a new set of accessories in order for them to work with your phone.
5) Low interference is another bonus for these devices. People often find that wireless devices receive constant interference by others operating on the same frequencies. This is not an issue with Bluetooth as it utilizes technologies that limit the risk of this occurrence.
6) Lower energy consumption is another benefit of Bluetooth over similar devices. This means you will drain your battery less often or use less electricity in the use of your Bluetooth devices.
7) Bluetooth allows compatible devices to share data and voice communication. This means that you can drive more safely while talking on your cell phone.
8) You have the option of creating a Personal Area Network (PAN) with your Bluetooth device. This network operates within a 30 foot range and can have as many as 7 devices connected.
9) Bluetooth is emerging technology. As such, they are constantly offering better features and services. They are also behaving very wisely in creating consumer loyalty by making their new technologies compatible with existing technologies. This means that you can continuously upgrade your devices.
10) We've seen many fads come and go in the cellular community. Bluetooth, however, seems to be in it for the long haul. They are committed to raising the bar for wireless technology and have in the process gained many loyal customers and fans.