Compaq CQ50-139WM Bluetooth Wireless Technology Basics - Page 2

Abstract This paper provides an overview of Bluetooth® wireless technology and instructs users on how to establish Bluetooth connections using HP products. Bluetooth wireless technology is an inexpensive, short-range radio technology that eliminates the need for proprietary cabling between devices such as notebook PCs, handheld PCs, personal digital assistants (PDAs), cameras, and printers. Introduction Bluetooth wireless technology (BWT) was developed in 1994 at Ericsson in Sweden. The original purpose of BWT was to eliminate the need for proprietary cable connections between devices such as PDAs and notebook PCs. Although infrared communication existed at the time, it required line-ofsight contact. Therefore, Ericsson chose to use an inexpensive, low-power radio built into each device, making it possible to wirelessly connect devices through walls and other nonmetallic materials. After Ericsson began work on BWT, the concept blossomed into a radio technology that simultaneously connects several devices in a wireless personal area network (WPAN). Because of the unlimited potential of BWT, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG)1 was formed in 1998 to develop the Bluetooth Specification IEEE 802.15. The specification standardized the development of BWT-enabled devices so that devices from different manufacturers can work together. What does this mean for you? With BWT, you can run your presentation on a client's BWT-enabled projector without a cable connection. If you leave a file on the desktop PC back at your office, don't fret. Use your BWT-enabled PDA or laptop to connect to your office LAN via your BWT-enabled mobile phone-without taking the phone out of your briefcase. Exchange electronic business cards with everyone in the room, regardless of where they are sitting, with a few taps on your PDA. Then, the PDA saves you time by automatically synchronizing their contact information with the email application on your laptop. These BWT-enabled products are available today. This paper provides an overview of BWT, describes the requirements for establishing a BWT connection, and provides information about HP products that incorporate BWT. Where did the name Bluetooth come from? The Bluetooth SIG adopted the code name as a tribute to the tenth-century Viking king Harald Blåtand who peacefully united Denmark and Norway. Harald liked to eat blueberries, which gave his teeth the coloration that lead to the nickname "Bluetooth." 1 The founding members of the Bluetooth SIG are Ericsson, Intel, IBM, Nokia, and Toshiba. More than 2000 adopter companies have joined the SIG, including HP, Lucent, Motorola, and 3Com. 2