Who created bluetooth

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. Mobile phones, computers, printers, headsets etc can be connected wirelessly using Bluetooth technology.

Ericsson Mobile Communications had the first idea of finding a low cost, low power interface. In 1994 they started investigating linking mobile phones and computers wirelessly. A group of like minded companies joined forces in 1998 to form and association called the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) in Lund Switzerland. Coming from different backgrounds the group included market leaders in laptop manufacturing, the cell phone industry and digital signal processing. 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. Based on a frequency hopping spread spectrum it is a wireless technology that combines and simplifies multiple forms of communication into a common secure available radio signal.

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.

What exactly is Bluetooth?

Operating on a short-range radio frequency it is a wireless communications network. 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

Bluetooth has seen many improved qualities with many changes since version 1.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 had many new features, great extra benefits and vast improvement with voice quality, backward compatibility and was in general a better all round product.

Version2.0 saw more improvements and features and now version 3.0 has a Bluetooth master able to communicate with several devices, and at any given time, the slave can become the master. 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. The Bluetooth setup of its services between many devices is simpler, can be automated and security is easier. 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. Bluetooth is more powerful and has better connections whilst Wi-Fi is better suited for operating larger networks. 

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. Nearly all computers now have Bluetooth installed but if not then if your computer has Windows XP with Service pack 2 then a device called a dongle can be purchased. 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. While other technology may go Bluetooth is here for the long term.