Bluetooth Accessory Buying Guide
In the past few years, Bluetooth headsets have become must-have accessories for cell phone fanatics. The benefits of these hands-free, wireless devices are obvious, particularly in the wake of state and local laws that require the use of a headset while driving. And just as the number of headsets has exploded, the number of Bluetooth cell phones has increased as well. Integrated Bluetooth is now present in a broad range of cell phones, from high-end smart phones to low-end functional models. Of course, cell phone Bluetooth usage is not limited to just headsets, users can also use Bluetooth to stream music wirelessly, connect to the Web, transfer files, and more. Bluetooth technology has been around since 1999, many consumers are still a little confused about what it is and how it works. Even its oddball name is somewhat mysterious.
Though it may sound complicated, Bluetooth really is quite simple, inexpensive, and easy to use. In Bluetooth technology, two devices communicate with each other over low-frequency radio waves in the 2.4GHz range. No cables or wires are needed, and the only requirement is that both devices be Bluetooth compatible. Unlike infrared ports, the connected devices do not need to be in direct line of sight, but they do need to be relatively close to each other. And like a wireless Infrared transfer. The process of connecting devices via Bluetooth starts with pairing, a procedure wherein a Bluetooth-enabled phone and another Bluetooth device search for and recognize each other. Once the connection is made and secured via a PIN , the two devices will talk to each other and exchange information.
There are multiple versions of Bluetooth, and not all Bluetooth specifications are the same, so users may want to make sure their two chosen devices will work with each other. All of the newer Bluetooth versions are backward-compatible, however, so as long as users are using the more basic Bluetooth features, they will not have much to worry about. Most products currently work on Bluetooth version 1.1, which offers such basic features as voice dialing, call mute, and last-number redial. Bluetooth 1.2 introduced new features to eliminate radio frequency interference through frequency hopping and added greater security to protect against snooping and tracking. Bluetooth 2.0 brought higher connection speeds as much as three times faster, in some cases, improved performance, and less power consumption.
Some Bluetooth Features to Consider:
Stereo Bluetooth
Also widely known as the stereo Bluetooth headset profile, A2DP allows for a dual-channel audio stream through a stereo headset. A2DP is an especially popular concept with MP3 and music phones because it lets users listen to music wirelessly. It also can be used to make calls, and users can switch between music and calls at the touch of a button.
Audio/Video Remote Control
AVRCP provides a standard interface to control TVs, hi-fi equipment, and so forth. This profile is used to allow a single remote control (or other device) to control all the AV equipment to which a user has access. AVRCP defines how to control characteristics of streaming media. This includes pausing, stopping, and starting playback and volume control as well as other types of remote control operations.
Dial-up Networking Profile
DUN enables access to the Internet and other dial-up services over Bluetooth wireless technology. The most common scenario is surfing the Web from a laptop by dialing up via a mobile phone, wirelessly.
Hands-Free Profile
HFP lets you use a gateway device to place and receive calls for a hand-free device. A typical configuration is in an automobile using a mobile phone as a gateway device. In the car, the stereo is used for the phone's audio and a microphone is installed in the car for sending outgoing audio of the conversation. HFP is also used for a personal computer to act as a speakerphone for a mobile phone in a home or office environment.
Synchronization
The SYNC profile is used in conjunction with GOEP (Generic Object Exchange Profile) to enable synchronization of calendar and address information (personal information manager items) between Bluetooth-enabled devices. A common application of this profile is the exchange of data between a PDA and computer.
Object Exchange
OBEX is a transfer protocol that defines data objects and a communication protocol that two devices can use to exchange those objects. For Bluetooth enabled devices, only connection-oriented OBEX is supported.
SIM Access Profile
SAP allows devices such as car phones with built-in GSM transceivers to connect to a SIM card in a Bluetooth-enabled phone. Therefore, the car phone itself does not require a separate SIM card.
Having all or most of these features can be the decisive factor in choosing a proper Bluetooth for a users need, so keep the above information in mind when using and selecting a Bluetooth accessory to buy.
