All about Bluetooth - Education and Safety
What is Bluetooth?
Bluetooth is a wireless technology that enables any electrical device to wirelessly communicate in the 2.4 GHz (license free) frequency band. It allows devices such as mobile phones, headsets, PDA's and portable computers to communicate and send data to each other without the need for wires or cables to link the devices together. It has been specifically designed as a low cost, low power, radio technology, which is particularly suited to the short range Personal Area Network application. It is the design focus on low cost, low size and low power, which distinguishes it from the 802.11 wireless LAN technologies. Real-time data transfer usually possible between 10-100m.Close proximity is not required as Bluetooth doesn't suffer from interference from obstacles such as walls.
Why is it called Bluetooth?
The technologies colorful name stems form Danish history, Harald Bluetooth, a Viking and King of Denmark from the years 940 to 981 was renowned for his ability to help people communicate. During his reign he united Denmark and Norway. The name was chosen to highlight the potential of the technology to unify the telecommunications and computing industries - although the name of Bluetooth was chosen as an internal codename, at the time, it was never expected to survive.
When and how was it conceived?
Bluetooth was originally conceived by Ericsson in 1994, when they began a study to examine alternatives to cables that linked mobile phone accessories. Ericsson already had a strong capability in short-range wireless, having been a key pioneer of the European cordless telecommunications standard. Out of their study was born the specification for Bluetooth wireless. It launched to the public in 1998. Today, there are over 2100 companies contributing to Bluetooth development. In February 1998, the Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group-Not for profit) was founded by a small core of major companies - IBM, Intel, Nokia, Toshiba and Ericsson - to work together to develop the technology and to subsequently promote its widespread commercial acceptance.
FAQ's
- How many Bluetooth devices can I pair with my 2-way radio Mike or PCS phone?
Up to 10 devices can pair. Each Bluetooth phone or 2-way has the ability to accept and pair any device that they are compatible with – ask one of our representatives for assistance after you decide on which Bluetooth enabled phone you are going to purchase & they can show you our options. - How do I know which Bluetooth device to choose for my Bluetooth Telus Mike or PCS phone?
- Make sure it is comfortable on your ear or a device that has a speakerphone
- Ensure that you hear clearly & do not strain to listen to your conversations
- Choose a device that has a battery life for talk time that suits your needs
- Consider your budget, Bluetooth devices start from $89.99 - How long does it take for the battery on my Bluetooth earpiece to charge?
Minimum 2 hours but no longer than 3 for a full and reliable charge. - Can I move my Bluetooth ear set to another Bluetooth unit if I upgrade?
Please check with one of our reps to ensure that it will be able to pair or communicate with your next Bluetooth enabled handset - What can I do to make my non-Bluetooth headset become Bluetooth?
An adapter can be purchased that fits into a 2.5 jack on your phone to enable Bluetooth or wireless connectivity.
Bluetooth Info
- Class 1 – 2-10 meters (30 feet) / Class 2 – 1-100 meters ( 300feet)
- Any two blue tooth devices sharing a common profile can communicate, currently Blue tooth has over 30 profiles
- HID – Human interface device profile allows communication with headset devices
- Stereo Audio Profile ( A2DP) Advanced audio distribution profile Allows distribution of high quality audio, including stereo sound
- BPP – Basic Printing protocol – Allows communication with printers
- BT 1.2 enables quicker connections, improved audio quality & adaptive frequency hopping - & is fully backwards compatible with 1.1 BT devices
Stereo audio Profile (A2DP) expands the different ways you can listen to music from your stereo headset, either from your computer or stereo system. & when a call comes in on your BT enabled phone, you can answer it from the headset.
