Bluetooth has a lot to offer in an increasingly difficult marketplace. Bluetooth helps to bring with it the promise of freedom from the cables and simplicity in networking that has yet to be matched by LAN (Local Area Network).
In the key marketplace, of wireless and handheld devices, the closest competitor to Bluetooth is infrared. Infrared holds many key features, although the line of sight it provides doesn’t go through walls or through obstacles like that of Bluetooth technology.
Unlike infrared, Bluetooth isn’t a line of sight and it provides ranges of up to 100 meters. Bluetooth is also low power and low processing with an overhead protocol. What this means, is that it’s ideal for integration into small battery-powered devices. To put it short, the applications with Bluetooth are virtually endless.
Advantages And Disadvantages
Below, are benefits and reasons to use Bluetooth technology.
Wireless
As you probably already know, there are many benefits and advantages to using wireless devices. Along with improving safety as a result of eliminating wires you don’t need, wireless also offers you plenty of other advantages. When traveling with your laptop
or other wireless devices, you’ll no longer have to worry about bringing connection cables.
Bluetooth is actually inexpensive
The technology of Bluetooth is cheap for companies to implement, which results in lower costs for the company. These savings are then passed from the company on to you.
Bluetooth is automatic
Bluetooth doesn’t have you set up a connection or push any buttons. When two or more devices enter a range of up to 30 feet of each other, they will automatically communicate without you having to do anything.
Standardized protocol
They standardized Bluetooth wireless, meaning that a high level of compatibility among devices is guaranteed. Bluetooth will connect devices to each other, even if they aren’t the same model.
Low interference
Bluetooth devices almost always avoid interference from other wireless devices. Bluetooth uses a technique known as frequency hopping, and also low-power wireless signals.
Low energy consumption
Because Bluetooth uses low-power signals, the technology requires very little energy and will use less battery or electrical power. This is an excellent benefit for mobile devices, as Bluetooth won’t drain the battery.
Sharing voice and data
The standard for Bluetooth will allow compatible devices to share data and voice communications. This is great for mobile phones and headsets, as Bluetooth simplifies driving and talking on your cell phone.
Instant PAN (Personal Area Network)
You can connect up to seven Bluetooth devices to each other within a range of up to 30 feet, forming a piconet or PAN. For a single room, you can also set up multiple piconets.
Upgradeable
Upgradeable is the standard for Bluetooth. There are newer versions of Bluetooth in the works, which offer many new advantages and backward compatibility with older versions.
The technology stays
Bluetooth technology is a worldwide, universal wireless standard. With it being as popular as it is, you can count on it being around for years to come. As more and more devices use Bluetooth technology, more manufacturers will be eager to make their products compatible. A chain reaction will occur, making Bluetooth the standard for innovative wireless.
Disadvantages
Bluetooth has several positive features, and one would be extremely hard-pressed to find downsides when given the current competition. The only real downsides are the data rate and security. Infrared can have data rates of up to 4 MBps, which provides very fast rates for data transfer, while Bluetooth only offers 1 MBps.
For this very reason, infrared has yet to be dispensed with completely and is considered by
many to be the complementary technology to that Bluetooth. Infrared has inherent security because of its line of sight.
The greater range and radio frequency (RF) of Bluetooth make it much more open to interception and attack. For this reason, security is a very key aspect of the Bluetooth specification.
Although there are very few disadvantages, Bluetooth remains the best for short-range wireless technology. Those who have tried it love it, and they know for a fact that Bluetooth will be around for years to come.