From GSM to LTE: An Introduction to Mobile Networks and Mobile Broadband

7.1 Overview and Applications

Owing to the ongoing miniaturization and integration, more and more small electronic devices are used in everyday life. Bluetooth enables these devices to wirelessly communicate with each other without a direct line-of-sight connection. This enables a wide range of new applications and possibilities. Some of them are described below.

The mobile phone plays a central role in many applications. Today, in addition to normal voice telephony, mobile phones are also used to connect to the Internet. Apart from the embedded WAP browser, external devices like notebooks can also use a mobile phone as a gateway to the Internet. To establish a connection between the devices, the mobile phone simply has to be in range and does not even have to be taken out of a pocket or case. This is a big advantage especially when traveling in trains, buses, cars or the metro, where there is usually only limited space and freedom of movement.

The Bluetooth module embedded in a mobile phone can be used for many other things as well. Calendar entries, addresses, notes, etc., which are stored on a mobile phone, can be quickly exchanged with other personal devices like other phones and small mobile devices, notebooks or devices of friends while they are at close range.

Today, most mobile phones are equipped with a photo camera and file systems in order to take and store pictures. By using Bluetooth, these pictures can be sent quickly and for free to other devices in the vicinity. ...