What is Bluetooth?

Bluetooth is a technology that lets your computer, monitor, mouse, keyboard, PDA - in fact anything with a Bluetooth chip communicate by radio instead of cables.

It's useful because it not only saves on messy cables but also allows you to easily synchronise information between devices.

So, the next time you want to update your address book on your PDA from the one on your computer you'll just need to place them near each other - no plugging in!

No cables or line-of-sight

Until recently, if you wanted to print from your PDA or digital camera you needed to get a cable and then plug it into your computer - which then sent the data to your printer.

It's a lot of work so companies developed infra-red. With this you could point a device with infra-red at another one and they could communicate. Hey presto - no cables!

The problem with this is that you had to have a 'line-of-sight' from one of the devices to the other.

With Bluetooth, and other wireless technologies, the devices just need to be within range of each other. For Bluetooth, this is within about 10 metres.

What it's used for

The main thing about Bluetooth is it's cable free. So, you can connect to the internet on your laptop computer even though your mobile is at the bottom of your briefcase.

It makes synchronising your address book, calendar and to do list on your computer, mobile or PDA much easier - they can sync without even asking you!

And the lack of cables means you can have the computer in one part of the house but use the monitor and printer in another.

How it works

Bluetooth devices work by using radio chips. When a Bluetooth device detects another one nearby it automatically links up to it, with no nasty configuration or horrible cables.

It's not really intended to replace powerful office networks. It sends data at around 1Mb per second which compares to the much faster range of 10Mbps and 54 Mbps that proper wireless networks have.

It's more intended for normal users like you and me, who need to plug machines together every so often but want it to be easier!

Is it secure?

Bluetooth uses the 2.45 GHz radio band which it shares with microwave ovens and cordless phones!

To be secure, Bluetooth devices constantly change the radio frequency they are using to help prevent eavesdropping.

Also, every Bluetooth device has an individual ID and before they can swap data, you have to enter a PIN number to authorise the connection.

This is to stop passers by hooking up to your machines! That said, once you have set up the connection your devices can remember them which can be a security risk.

Where they got the name

Bluetooth isn't one company, but a standard way of getting computers and other devices to talk together.

There are now thousands of companies using Bluetooth in their products but the first ones to get together were Erikkson, Intel, Nokia, Toshiba and IBM.

The name Bluetooth comes from 10th Century Danish Viking King, King Blatand (or Bluetooth in English).

He was the King who united the fighting tribes of Denmark and Norway and as the standard was created to 'unite' together lots of different devices they chose this name!