Bluetooth

Plantronics Voyager Legend

Bluetooth

Runic letter ior

Runic letter berkanan

Ericsson Bluetooth module

Bluetooth headset

Wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances

Bluetooth

Type	Wireless technology standard
Inventor
Inception
Manufacturer
Available
Discontinued
Website	[ Official website]
Related articles

{{This technology related article is a stub.}}

Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard used for exchanging data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances using UHF radio waves in the ISM band from 2.402 GHz to 2.48 GHz. It was originally conceived as a wireless alternative to RS-232 data cables. Bluetooth is managed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), which has more than 35,000 member companies in the areas of telecommunication, computing, networking, and consumer electronics.

History

Bluetooth was developed by Ericsson in 1994 and was later formalized by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), which was established in 1998. The name "Bluetooth" is derived from the 10th-century king Harald Bluetooth who united Denmark and Norway.

Technical Details

Bluetooth operates in the ISM band from 2.402 GHz to 2.48 GHz, and it uses a technique called frequency-hopping spread spectrum to minimize interference from other devices. The technology supports both point-to-point and point-to-multipoint connections.

Versions

Bluetooth has undergone several versions since its inception:

• Bluetooth 1.0 and 1.0B: The first versions, which had many issues and were not widely adopted.
• Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR: Introduced Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) for faster data transfer.
• Bluetooth 3.0 + HS: Added High-Speed (HS) capabilities using an alternate radio.
• Bluetooth 4.0: Introduced Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for low power consumption.
• Bluetooth 5.0: Increased range, speed, and broadcast messaging capacity.

Applications

Bluetooth is used in a wide range of applications, including:

• Wireless headphones and earbuds
• Wireless speakers
• Smartphones and tablets
• Laptops and desktop computers
• Wearable technology such as smartwatches
• Automotive systems for hands-free calling and audio streaming

Security

Bluetooth technology includes several security features such as encryption and authentication to protect data. However, it has also been subject to various security vulnerabilities over the years, such as BlueBorne and Bluejacking.

See Also

• Wi-Fi
• Zigbee
• Near-field communication
• Infrared Data Association
• Wireless USB

Related Pages

• Bluetooth Special Interest Group
• Bluetooth Low Energy
• Wireless communication
• Frequency-hopping spread spectrum
• ISM band