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