Bluetooth is the name of a protocol for a short range (10 meter)
frequency-hopping 2.4 GHz radio link between wireless devices such as a mobile phone
and a PC. The idea is to make connections between different electronic items much
easier and simpler, and without a lot of operator intervention. Bluetooth was
launched in 1998 as a joint effort between Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Nokia and Toshiba.
Over 1000 companies are now involved in the effort -- so you can see that it has
stirred a lot of interest in the wireless community. Products are now being produced
and shipped in huge quantities (around 13% of all mobile phones in 2004), despite
recent security concerns that have arisen. Will Bluetooth
take over the wireless market? Or will other competing technologies that offer faster
data rates or greater security win out?
Below is some information on this technology -- what it is, tutorial information, reference books, and links to
more online information about the protocol.
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Bluetooth Security. NIST special publication dated 2008 on Bluetooth security
Bluetooth Recommends Safe
Computing. This January 11, 2005 article in New Zealand's Geekzone discusses the recently
released guidelines on how to protect Bluetooth devices from worms and viruses. These guidelines
address some of the recent security issues (see below).
Bluetooth reality check,
September 19, 2003 article in InfoWorld Tech Watch by Cathleen Moore: "Bluetooth isn't going away,
but the original idea that it would be ubiquitous as a cable replacement technology is pretty much
dead in the water."
Bluetooth is named after a King of Denmark, Harald Bluetooth, who ruled between 940 and 986 or thereabouts.
He didn't have blue teeth, but was called that because he was very dark haired, which was
unusual for people in that part of the world at that time. An unusual Viking in other
respects as well, he was good at getting people to talk with each other. He united
Denmark and part of Norway into a single kingdom, and was responsible for introducing
Christianity into Denmark. He erected a large runestone in the Danish town of Jelling in
memory of his parents Gorm The Old and Thyre Danebod. This stone still stands in its original position.
King Harald was killed during a battle with his son, Svend Forkbeard, who shot him in the
back with an arrow. Filial devotion obviously didn't carry on to the next generation.
Ericsson chose this name to celebrate part of the Scandinavian heritage, and in 1999 raised
its own runestone to the great communicator King Harald Bluetooth outside the Ericsson
offices in Lund.
History buffs can find more information on Harald Bluetooth and the original
Jelling Runestone at
http://www.fortidensjelling.dk.
Click on a Title Below for a Direct Link to Purchase
Bluetooth 1.1 Connect Without Cables, by Jennifer Bray,
Charles F. Sturman, Joe Mendolia. Hardcover - 622 pages 2nd edition (December 17, 2001).
Bluetooth Application Developer's Guide, by Jennifer Bray (Technical Editor),
Brian Senese, Gordon McNutt, Bill Munday, David Kammer.
Paperback - 556 pages (December 15, 2001).
Read a 1998 News Article on SSS Online about Bluetooth.
This article is based on the Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Nokia and Toshiba joint press release announcing the
Bluetooth initiative and giving many of the early specifications.
