Bluetooth has a lot to offer with an increasingly difficult market place.  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 the 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. 

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 complimentary technology to that of Bluetooth.  Infrared has inherent security due
to 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 to the Bluetooth specification.

Although there are very few disadvantages, Bluetooth still 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.

Constantly evolving, the technology of Bluetooth started off as a basic wireless connection standard
but has since then been adapted and proven with many different uses and functions.

A good example is Bluetooth for cell phones.  It enables mobile users to connect to their hands free
headset without using wires.  Bluetooth technology will also allow mobile phone users to connect
with their hands free kit as well.

Another handy use of Bluetooth is file sharing.  It allows the sharing of files between two cell phones,
between a cell phone and computer, which makes the sharing of files a snap.  If you have a cell phone
and computer, you can easily transfer data between the two.

Say for example you wanted to put an MP3 on your phone from your computer you could do it easily
with Bluetooth.  All you would need is a Bluetooth adapter for your computer.  It doesn’t stop with the
swapping of files either,as you can use your computer and phone to synchronise phone books, send SMS messages, and much more.

Although Bluetooth may be dandy for cell phones, it also comes in handy for the home office as well.
Utilizing Bluetooth is a great way to set up a home office – two computers, a printer, and even a
scanner.  They all can be connected using Bluetooth technology with effective ranges of up to 10 meters.

The technology and devices of Bluetooth will be around for years and years to come.  As years go
by, Bluetooth will provide even better wireless solutions for different applications.  Even though
Bluetooth has a short range, it has that short range for a reason.  Bluetooth is easily the best
in wireless technology – which it continues to prove time and time again.