Windows 8 Bible

The World of Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a wireless specification intended to replace the need to use physical cables between devices. Bluetooth, for example, enables you to wirelessly connect keyboards, mice, and printers to your laptop or computer. You also can use Bluetooth to wirelessly connect a mobile phone to your computer or laptop to sync settings, transfer photos or videos, or share contacts. Many other types of Bluetooth devices are available as well, including ones that don’t even connect to computers or laptops such as devices used inside automobiles, exercise equipment, and games.

Bluetooth uses radio waves to transmit signals, much like many other types of technologies such as FM radio, television, and Wi-Fi. One primary difference between Bluetooth and other radio wave technologies is the distance between devices. Bluetooth is designed for very small distances; the idea is that Bluetooth is personal. You set up connections between your devices in a personal area network (called a PAN). Bluetooth is good within about 164 feet (50 meters), whereas other radio wave technologies can reach miles or hundreds of miles.

At the time of this writing, the current Bluetooth version is 4.0. Bluetooth 4.0 introduced low-energy wireless transfers to allow small, low-powered devices to use Bluetooth. Transfer rates allow data to be sent at up to 25 Mbps (megabytes per second, which is quite fast. If you’re thinking of setting up a permanent wireless network between computers, however, ...