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help the ignorant
Authored by: murphpo on Apr 27, '02 02:18:47PM

The best way to think of Bluetooth is as a wireless alternative to peripheral cables. It offers a relatively slow wireless link (around 1M bits/sec) that is suitable for applications where serial ports or low-speed USB is currently used. Do not think of it as a competitor to 802.11 wireless networking. It is possible to establish IP networks over Bluetooth links, but (as you might guess) the performance is pretty horrible. Bluetooth beats 802.11 at two things: power consumption and design simplicity. BT devices suck way less power; that's why you see BT cell phones popping up but none with 802.11. BT chipsets are also *much* easier to design around than 802.11, allowing it to be included in compact devices like phones and PDA's.

A couple of prime usage examples:

-Wirelessly sync your PDA to your laptop. Instead of using a cradle or sync cable, they're able to communicate once in range of one another.

-Wireless headset for your cell phone. Instead of having to run a cable from your ear to your phone, you can tuck your phone away in your pocket and let a Bluetooth headset communicate with it wirelessly.

-Connect your PDA (or phone; late model Ericssons do it!) to a Bluetooth-enabled printer. Works just like IrDA would, but it's not line of sight and has a longer range.



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help the ignorant
Authored by: bilca on Jun 10, '02 05:50:33PM

The comparissing with USB goes deeper:
Both systems have an exchange of information about the device. Thats why a USB camera is seen as such by your MAC and the Bluetooth printer as a printer.
Look at www.bluetooth.com for more info.



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