Bluetooth | Definition, Uses, History, & Facts (2024)

FAQs

What is the history of Bluetooth? ›

Bluetooth was first created in 1994 by scientists and engineers at a Swedish telecommunications company that you may be familiar with, Ericsson. These scientists were researching ways to have wireless headsets that could be used with computers or phones, exactly like it is used today.

Bluetooth is a technology standard used to enable short-range wireless communication between electronic devices. Since Bluetooth operates on radio frequencies, rather than the infrared spectrum used by traditional remote controls, devices using this technology do not have to maintain a line of sight to communicate.

Bluetooth technology allows devices to communicate with each other without cables or wires. Bluetooth relies on short-range radio frequency, and any device that incorporates the technology can communicate as long as it is within the required distance.

Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology standard that is used for exchanging data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances and building personal area networks (PANs).

You cannot view a list of bluetooth history in an Android device. However, you can only view the list of all added devices in the bluetooth menu.

Before Bluetooth was invented, some computers, personal digital assistants, and cell phones used infrared technology to send files to other devices. Bluetooth replaced infrared in the early 2000s. Infrared is limited by the need to have both devices in a "line of sight" with each other.

Bluetooth short-range wireless technology enables two devices to connect directly without requiring supporting network infrastructure such as a wireless router or access point.

Devices connected in a Bluetooth network communicate with each other using ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio waves. These are electromagnetic waves with frequencies around 2.4 gigahertz (2.4 billion waves per second). UHF waves of different frequencies are used in microwave ovens, GPS systems and many other devices.

Surprisingly, the name dates back more than a millennia to King Harald “Bluetooth” Gormsson who was well known for two things: Uniting Denmark and Norway in 958. His dead tooth, which was a dark blue/grey color, and earned him the nickname Bluetooth.

While Bluetooth is beneficial for many applications, be careful how you use it. My advice: Turn off Bluetooth when you're not using it. Keeping it active all the time makes your device more discoverable. As a bonus, keeping Bluetooth off will increase your device's battery life.

What are the disadvantages of Bluetooth? ›

Limited range: Bluetooth connections typically become weaker or lost when the devices are more than 10 meters apart. Lower transfer speeds: Bluetooth may have slower data transfer rates than USB or Wi-Fi technologies.

Absolutely, Bluetooth® is commonly used to connect wireless peripherals like keyboards, mice, and even game controllers. These devices usually have built-in Bluetooth® capabilities or come with Bluetooth® adapters.

Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology that uses radio waves to connect devices. It does not require an internet connection to work. This means that you can use Bluetooth to connect devices even if you are in an area with no WiFi or cellular coverage.

How far does Bluetooth usually reach? Commercial electronics, including most smartphones, headphones, earbuds, and portable speakers, fall into class 2, which gives them a range of about 33 feet.

1994: The Invention of Bluetooth

Jaap Haartsen was tasked with finding short-range radio connections. Working at Ericsson's Mobile Terminal Division, the company wanted to find a way to enrich the functionality of mobile phones which had been growing in popularity at the time.

Cars started to have Bluetooth in the early 2000s. One of the first automakers to incorporate Bluetooth into its vehicles is Chrysler.