Bluetooth started as the code name for the association (Bluetooth Special Interest Group) when it was first formed and the name stuck. The name "Bluetooth" is from the 10th century Danish King Harald Blatand - or Harold Bluetooth in English. King Blatand was instrumental in uniting warring factions in parts of what is now Norway, Sweden, and Denmark - just as Bluetooth technology is designed to allow collaboration between differing industries such as the computing, mobile phone, and automotive markets

Bluetooth is, basically, a system that provides wireless data connectivity between similarly equipped electronic items. This takes the form of a low power radio transmitter/receiver that is built into whatever equipment is deemed to need one. Ultimately, this could mean, for instance, that your microwave oven could call you to tell you that your tea is ready or, another phone may call to say it has some email for you. Imagine climbing onto a bus and your phone pays the fare as you step aboard – no cash needed! These are just some of the possibilities that Bluetooth makes a ‘here or coming soon’ reality!

A fundamental strength of Bluetooth is the ability to simultaneously handle both data and voice transmissions. This enables users to enjoy a variety of innovative solutions such as a hands-free headset for voice calls, printing and fax capabilities, and synchronizing PDA, laptop, and mobile phone applications to name but a few!

The basis of Bluetooth operation is that any items containing the necessary hardware/software can communicate with each other as soon as they are within a 10M range. This negates the need for ‘line of sight’ that infrared systems require. Thus, Bluetooth equipment can be in different rooms or floors of a building and still work well !

Your mobile phone can now be used in your car with a Bluetooth car kit (you don’t need to remove the phone from your pocket!) and soon could also be ‘integrated’ into your car (or house) alarm/central locking system to keep you informed of status or even automatically control the system for you! Your phone can be used as a modem with your lap-top computer for completely wireless connection to the internet or for sending/receiving faxes. All you need to do to prepare for this is to pair the two units to each other.

Bluetooth is a technology that will have tremendous impact on the way we run our lives – both now and in the future! Almost all new phones are Bluetooth compatible & the possibilities are endless!