| They may call it a wireless phone, but | | | | process.Pairing up |
| standard cellular phones still require wires | | | | |
| at some point. Besides the clunky charger, | | | | Before you start talking on a Bluetooth |
| you also have to fumble with cords to use a | | | | cellular phone, you do need to know a few |
| headset and to transfer data between your | | | | facts. A Bluetooth cellular phone has a range |
| phone and other gadgets. But there is an | | | | of 30 feet (10 meters), and the devices in |
| answer for anyone looking to cut the cord | | | | question must use compatible versions of |
| almost completely. With a Bluetooth cellular | | | | Bluetooth. The majority of Bluetooth cellular |
| phone, you can chat on a wireless headset, | | | | phones currently in the marketplace works on |
| transfer data magically through the air to a | | | | Bluetooth 1.1. (Two previous versions, 1.0 |
| handheld, or connect with a Bluetooth-enabled | | | | and 1.0B, were plagued with compatibility |
| car. But take care, as each Bluetooth | | | | issues and have since been discontinued.) The |
| cellular phone is not created in the same | | | | Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), a |
| manner. While some carriers let you use a | | | | trade association and development group, is |
| Bluetooth cellular phone for almost any | | | | releasing newer versions that promise several |
| means, others restrict it to a headset | | | | upgrades and backward compatibility. |
| only.Bluetooth is a standard developed by a | | | | Bluetooth 1.2, includes the addition of an |
| group of electronics manufacturers that | | | | anonymity mode, which masks the hardware |
| allows any sort of electronic equipment -- | | | | address of the device to protect from |
| from computers and Bluetooth cellular phones | | | | identity snooping and tracking, and adaptive |
| to keyboards and headphones -- to make its | | | | frequency hopping, which cuts interference by |
| own connections, without wires, cables or any | | | | avoiding crowded frequencies. Bluetooth 2.0 |
| direct action from a user. A Bluetooth | | | | has some enhancements; among them are |
| cellular phone works at two levels: | | | | narrowband channels, which will enable |
| | | | messages to be broadcast to a high number of |
| It provides agreement at the physical level | | | | devices without the pairing process, |
| -- Bluetooth is a radio-frequency standard. | | | | andhigher connection speeds of up to |
| | | | 12Mbps.When no other means of connecting to |
| It also provides agreement at the next level | | | | the Internet is available, mobile workers can |
| up, where Bluetooth cellular phones have to | | | | use their Blue tooth cellular phone as a |
| agree on when bits are sent, how many will be | | | | modem. An advantage of using a Bluetooth |
| sent at a time and how the parties in a | | | | cellular phone is that it can remain in your |
| conversation can be sure that the message | | | | laptop carrying case or pocket, and a |
| received is the same as the message | | | | Bluetooth cellular phone does not require a |
| sent.While it may sound complicated, a | | | | direct line of sight connection. If your |
| Bluetooth cellular phone works in a simple | | | | laptop is not already Bluetooth enabled, you |
| manner. A Bluetooth cellular phone | | | | can purchase a USB Bluetooth adapter. |
| communicates with different devices by | | | | |
| sending data via a secure, low-cost | | | | A Bluetooth cellular phone makes it easy to |
| short-range radio frequency. Using the | | | | transfer or receive information from other |
| technology, a Bluetooth cellular phone can | | | | Bluetooth-enabled devices, eliminating the |
| connect to headsets, PCs can connect to | | | | need for extra cables. A Bluetooth cellular |
| printers or keyboards, and handhelds can | | | | phone can be used with a Bluetooth-enabled |
| connect to each other without any wires. Up | | | | headset allowing for handsfree operation. You |
| to seven connections can be made at one time, | | | | can put the Bluetooth cellular phone in your |
| at a speed of 1Mbps. All that's needed for | | | | pocket or carrying case and still take calls. |
| any Bluetooth cellular phone to connect to | | | | This is especially useful if you need to use |
| another Bluetooth-enabled device is for them | | | | your Bluetooth cellular phone while |
| to be paired--normally, a hassle-free | | | | driving.Be secure |
| "handshaking" process for establishing a | | | | |
| connection that takes seconds and can be | | | | As with any wireless device, a Bluetooth |
| found in most wireless connectivity | | | | cellular phone has some minor security |
| menus.What's in a Name? | | | | concerns. The SIG has admitted that |
| | | | bluebugging, where a hacker secretly accesses |
| In case you were wondering, what's | | | | a phone's commands (such as eavesdropping on |
| "Bluetooth" in the term "Bluetooth cellular | | | | conversations), and bluesnarfing, where a |
| phone", Bluetooth gets its name from a | | | | hacker can access a phone's data--such as the |
| 10th-century Danish king, Harald Blatand (or | | | | contacts--are possible, yet the group |
| Bluetooth) who unified Denmark, Norway, and | | | | downplays both actions. While they work |
| Sweden. According to legend, he had an | | | | through Bluetooth, they also require the |
| affinity for teeth-staining | | | | hacker to use a PC and to be within range of |
| blueberries.Bluetooth Frequency | | | | the victim's Bluetooth cellular phone (10 |
| | | | meters). Still, Nokia and Sony have said |
| A Bluetooth cellular phone communicates on a | | | | these issues affect only older handsets that |
| frequency of 2.45 gigahertz, which has been | | | | are available mainly outside of the United |
| set aside by international agreement for the | | | | States, and Nokia is promising a software |
| use of industrial, scientific and medical | | | | upgrade. To help combat both, a Bluetooth |
| devices (ISM).A number of devices that you | | | | cellular phone can be locked with a code or |
| may already use take advantage of this same | | | | simply turned off or put in hidden mode when |
| radio-frequency band. Baby monitors, | | | | not in use. Another concern, depending on how |
| garage-door openers and the newest generation | | | | you look at it, is bluejacking. This often |
| of cordless phones all make use of | | | | involves creating a flirtatious introductory |
| frequencies in the ISM band. Making sure that | | | | message, then sending it to another Bluetooth |
| a Bluetooth cellular phone and these other | | | | cellular phone (that is discoverable) narby |
| devices don't interfere with one another has | | | | as a text message. |
| been a crucial part of the design | | | | |