COMPUTERS AND MORE

• Bluetooth Specification Version 1.1 and Earlier

Several Bluetooth specification versions have been released since Bluetooth technology was introduced in 1998.

Versions 1.0 and 1.0B had too many problems and restraints for manufacturers to successfully develop Bluetooth devices. The main issue was the lack of interoperability among devices.

The Bluetooth Core Specification version 1.1 is the first truly successful operating version of Bluetooth technology. Bluetooth 1.1 corrected many of the problems found in the earlier versions. As a result: Devices using Bluetooth 1.1 have much greater interoperability.

• Bluetooth Version 1.2

Many new Bluetooth devices, like the latest cell phones, are being sold with the newer Bluetooth specification version 1.2. So, what new features/benefits does Bluetooth 1.2 offer?

* Backward compatible with Bluetooth 1.1
* Adaptive Frequency Hopping - helps reduce radio interference by eliminating the use of crowded frequencies in the hopping sequence
* Faster transmission speeds (1 Mbps)
* Extended Synchronous Connections Oriented links - improves voice quality of audio connections by enabling retransmissions of corrupted data.
* Received Signal Strength Indicator
* Host Controller Interface (HCI) support for 3-wire UART
* HCI access to timing information for Bluetooth applications

• Bluetooth Version 2.0 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)

There may be multiple communication technologies, but they all share one thing in common: Faster is better. The Bluetooth SIG realized this, and worked on improving the speeds of Bluetooth version 1.2. Bluetooth version 2.0 + EDR was announced by the Bluetooth SIG in June 2004 and began appearing in Bluetooth devices in late 2005.

Bluetooth version 2.0 + EDR delivers data transfer rates up to three times faster than the original Bluetooth specification. Bluetooth version 2.0 + EDR also provides enhanced multiple-connectivity. With Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, users will be able to more efficiently run multiple Bluetooth devices at the same time. As a result, Bluetooth Personal-Area Networks (PAN) or Piconets will become more common.

For example, users will have the ability to synchronize a Bluetooth enabled computer with a Bluetooth PDA, and at the same time they can listen to music using a pair of Bluetooth wireless headphones.

Computers and computer related devices have been some of the 1st devices to use Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, while audio and imaging devices are expected to follow shortly. Sony announced it will use Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR in its new PlayStation 3. The PlayStation 3 will reportedly use it for the wireless controllers.

Here is a listing of the main enhancements/features you will find with Bluetooth Specification Version 2.0 + EDR:

* Backward compatible with previous Bluetooth versions
* Three times faster transmission speed (10 times in some cases)
* Enhanced data rate of up to 3 Mbps
* Lower power consumption due to reduced duty cycles
* Broadcast/multicast support
* Simplification of multi-link scenarios due to more available bandwidth
* Distributed media-access control protocols
* Further improved Bit Error Rate performance