Bluetooth technology history
Posted on November 7, 2008
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Bluetooth history
Bluetooth takes its name from a character in history called Harald Bluetooth. He was the king of Denmark born in 910AD and was responsible in 940AD of uniting Denmark and Norway which is where Bluetooth technology gets its conception from. The founders of Bluetooth took the name of Harald Bluetooth because of the way he united two countries together and in the same way Bluetooth unites two dissimilar components. The use of Bluetooth technology has the ability of linking the different technologies like , computers, mobile phones, printers, headsets etc.
The first to try and discover a way to provide low cost, low power interfaces was a company called Ericsson Mobile Communications. In 1994 they started investigating linking mobile phones and computers wirelessly. In 1998, Lund Switzerland saw the formation of like minded companies who united into an association called the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). This group consisted of companies from different backgrounds including one leader in digital signal processing, two of them were market leaders in the cell phone industry, and the other two were leading laptop manufacturers. Included in this group where Motorola, Nokia, Intel, Toshiba, Agere, Ericsson, IBM, and Microsoft. Today research and development into the Bluetooth technology is led by these companies.
Ericsson Mobile Platforms had two employees Jaap Haartsen and Sven Mattisson which developed the Bluetooth specifications. Developed in Scandinavia Bluetooth technology is able to unite different components from different industries such as computing, cell phones and automotive markets. This wireless technology is based on a frequency hopping spread spectrum providing a secure radio signal that combines and simplifies multiple forms of communication.
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group made a firm commitment to have Bluetooth technology installed in various devices and by 2002 Bluetooth technology was installed in PC’s, notebooks, desktop computers and over 100 million mobile phones had the technology as well as millions of other communications devices.
Bluetooth definition?
Bluetooth is a wireless communications network which operates on a short-range radio frequency. When connected to various devices such as mobile phones and computers it provides a way of exchanging information as well and the Bluetooth technology can be used on any other apparatus that is provided with it’s built in features. It is medically safe to use due to its low power use, and the information is carried over a short-range radio bandwidth, known as ISM which is secure, and scientifically sound.
To be able to connect to one another devices need to have Bluetooth profiles and need to be compatible with each other. You can use things like mobile phones, hands free headsets, printers with wireless network communications, keyboards and a mouse, provided the profiles have been enabled.
Versions of Bluetooth
There have been many different versions of Bluetooth and a lot has changed since version1.Introduced in 1998 and like most other new technologies had many teething problems. The main problem being a lack of devices being able to communicate.
Version 1.1 became a truly operable product and was able to communicate properly due to great improvements.
Version 1.2 was in general a better all round product, with vast voice quality improvement, backward compatibility and overall had better all round benefits.
Version2.0 improved even more with features and quality and now version 3.0 is able to communicate with several devices using a Bluetooth master device in which the slave can become the master at any given time. The master has the ability to switch between devices very fast.
Wi-Fi is another wireless operating system and although it has a superior operating range it uses a different technology. The difference is Bluetooth technology is a lot cheaper as the Wi-Fi hardware is much more expensive. One big advantage Bluetooth has is its ease of setting it up between many devices, its better security and its automated system. Wi-Fi is more complicated to set up and needs to have devices configured to set up shared resources which are more for Ethernet networking. Wi-Fi is better suited for operating larger networks while Bluetooth has more power and better connections.
For operating Bluetooth on a computer it requires Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or higher. If you run an Apple computer it has been supported by Bluetooth technology since 2002. Bluetooth instillation has been carried out on most computers but if not a device called a dongle can be used provided you have windows XP and service pack 2. The dongle device allows various devices to communicate with your computer.
The future of Bluetooth is bright and it has become the world wide wireless standard system. Bluetooth technology will see many improvements in the future such as audio and video data at a higher quality, an alternate MAC PHY, which enables transporting of Bluetooth profile data. Automatic configuration will be carried out by using Topology Management, and broadcast channelling, which will enable Bluetooth in other devises. Manufacturers are now jumping on the bandwagon and using Bluetooth technology and as more components use it the technology will grow. Here for the long term Bluetooth Technology will remain a world leader.
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