Some Bluetooth devices come in the form of small earpieces.
Bluetooth is a hands-free, wireless technology that allows a user to connect a Bluetooth headset to a cell phone, laptop computer or other portable Bluetooth-ready device, allowing those devices to communicate directly and securely within closed networks. The benefits of Bluetooth are numerous and span multiple performance categories, including convenience, compatibility and efficiency.
Multitasking
With Bluetooth, a user can access data on a cell phone or other device without having to use his or her hands. This is an especially important function for drivers, who would otherwise have to remove their hands from a steering wheel -- and likely take their eyes off of the road -- in order to answer and carry on phone calls. In an office setting, Bluetooth allows a worker to keep his or her hands free for operating a computer, taking down notes or completing other tasks while talking with customers or fellow employees.
Automatic Connections
Unlike a standard wireless device, which requires a user set up a connection manually with the help of a menu screen or button, Bluetooth establishes a wireless connection automatically. Once a user brings a Bluetooth headset within 30 feet of a Bluetooth-ready device, the two components will sync up, joining the same Personal Area Network (PAN). Also known as a piconet, a PAN is a closed network that allows devices to communicate discreetly while in close proximity to one another.
Standardized Wireless
The wireless technology that Bluetooth depends on is standardized across the telecommunications industry. Assuming all of a device's components are functioning properly, this means a Bluetooth device will always be compatible with another Bluetooth-ready device, regardless of the make or model. For Bluetooth users traveling to other countries, there is no need to worry about adapter cords, cables or other components.
Adaptive Frequency Hopping
Adaptive frequency hopping (AFH) is a technology that limits the interference a Bluetooth headset experiences when communicating with another Bluetooth-enabled device. AFH functions in Bluetooth by scanning through over 70 different frequencies, at intervals of 1 megahertz (MHz). When AFH detects a particular frequency is busy with the signals of other devices in the area, it prompts a hop or switch to a clearer frequency.
Low Power Signals
Apart from using AFH, Bluetooth also minimizes interference by relying on low power signals. While these low-power Bluetooth signals do not travel as far as other wireless signals, they are also less susceptible to interruption. In addition, because Bluetooth can generate these signals using little electrical power, Bluetooth devices suck less power from batteries in comparison to mobile phones and other wireless devices. This makes Bluetooth an energy-efficient mobile technology.
Tags: Bluetooth headset, Bluetooth-ready device, technology that, Bluetooth devices, cell phone, device components, devices communicate