Signature - Q2, 2008 - (Page 43)

Bluetooth Technology 101 | By Jackie Zack | Illustration by Peter Hoey | Q2 ’08 Bluetooth wireless technology has opened up a whole new world in personal connectivity, allowing you to connect to and exchange information between a broad range of devices, such as mobile phones, hands-free headsets, laptops and digital cameras. So what could be better than that? Try improved usability, greater speed, lower power consumption and advancements in security. These are all enhancements found in the Bluetooth Core Specification Version 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), which was adopted by the Bluetooth SIG in July 2007. This new version further improves the Bluetooth wireless experience, making the technology easy for anyone to manage, even users with limited technical savvy. The feature likely to make the biggest impact on user experience is secure, simple pairing, which simplifies and enhances the pairing process between Bluetooth enabled devices. Traditionally, the ease or complexity of the pairing process varied greatly, depending on the devices. Now, products qualified to the new core specification can pair with other devices in record time – in some cases less than 30 seconds. Under the new specification, pairing a wireless headset with your mobile phone, for example, is nearly effortless. “In the past, I would have had to dive through multiple menus on my mobile phone to find the menu option for pairing two Bluetooth wireless devices,” explains Peter Hauser, product unit manager for the Bluetooth SIG. “Then I would have to remember the default personal identification number (PIN) assigned to my headset and how to push or hold down the buttons to put the headset into discoverable mode. “With version 2.1 + EDR, I just turn on the headset and select the ‘Add Bluetooth Device’ option on my phone. My phone and headset find each other and connect automatically. I then confirm the right headset was paired and I’m done.” And that’s not all. Devices qualified with the near field communication (NFC) option make the pairing process even easier. With NFC, you can connect two Bluetooth enabled devices by simply touching the products together or by holding them near one another. The devices will recognize the pairing request and wait for your confirmation. “The NFC pairing option provides an extremely simple and secure way for a consumer to pair two Bluetooth enabled devices. Once paired, the devices transmit data via the Bluetooth wireless link as usual,” says Hauser. NFC technology is useful for a variety of applications; for example, you can transfer photos from your phone to a printer merely by passing the two devices within 4 cm (1.6 in.) of each other. (For more information about NFC, see page 15.) Bluetooth wireless devices with easy pairing also use an enhanced security protocol that helps eliminate the possibility of someone intercepting information. To create a secure connection, the initiating Bluetooth enabled device generates a unique six-digit passkey that you enter to confirm the connection – no more long PINs to remember and key in. Several chip manufacturers already offer version 2.1 + EDR chips, including Broadcom and CSR, and product manufacturers have started qualifying products with these chips through the Bluetooth SIG Qualification Program. The first products hit the streets earlier this year. Jackie Zack is a Michigan-based business and technical writer. Sweet Simplicity If you’ve ever been frustrated by trying to pair Bluetooth enabled products, then secure, simple pairing probably ranks as the best feature to come out of the new Bluetooth Core Specification Version 2.1 + EDR. Experience More Bluetooth Special Interest Group | 43

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Signature - Q2, 2008

Signature - Q2, 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.