Bluetooth: what is bluetooth

Overview:

Bluetooth as it relates to cellular communications and hands free functions:

Bluetooth capable cell phones and data devices like Treo and Blackberry devices can use bluetooth capability to communicate hands free either by using a bluetooth headset or bluetooth hands free car kit. The bluetooth headset will allow the user to hold a cell phone conversation without having to touch the phone or connect the headset to the phone using a wire.

Hands free communications are virtually automatic in vehicles that have bluetooth stereo systems. A person can simply link his or her phone to the stereo and cellular voice communications will take place through the car stereo speakers and built in microphone in the vehicle. One does not need to purchase a hands free kit and have it installed into the vehicle to have hands free capability. For vehicles that do not have bluetooth capable stereo systems, a bluetooth hands free kit can be used in place of a traditional hard-wired hands free kit in a vehicle. Bluetooth in car hands free kits come in two forms; simple "plug and play" kits that incorporate the bluetooth circuitry, speaker and microphone in a single body that is usually plugged into the cigarette lighter and "install type" hands free kits that have separate junction circuit box, speaker and microphone. The difference between these two types of kit is that the "install type" hands free car kit usually has better voice and microphone quality than the "plug and play type".

Bluetooth as it relates to cellular data communications:

Bluetooth capable cell phones and data devices like Treo and Blackberry devices can use bluetooth capability to communicate with laptop and other computers and use them to transfer data, like phone books and contact lists, wirelessly back and forth from the phone to the computer or use the phone to establish a data link with the cellular network and use the computer for functions like email or web-browsing. In other words, no data cable between the phone and computer is required and no software to enable the phone and the computer to communicate is required. Bluetooth enables a fast and simple connection between any bluetooth enabled cellular phone or device and any bluetooth enabled computer.

Advantages and disadvantages of bluetooth with cellular phones and devices:

Bluetooth and Data:

Advantages:

Using bluetooth link between a cell phone and computer for data connections on a cellular network is far more convenient than traditional cable methods and there is no disadvantage. It is the ideal way to link computers and cell phones or PDA devices.

The same is cannot be said for hands free communications using bluetooth car kits and headsets.

Disadvantages: None

Bluetooth and Hands free:

Advantages: Bluetooth enabled car stereos and vehicles have the obvious advantage that no kit must be purchased or installed for the user to have hands free capability.

Bluetooth hands free kits that are purchased and installed into a vehicle will work with all bluetooth enabled phones and when one changes phones or uses two different model bluetooth phones a new hands free kit does not have to be purchased and installed.

Disadvantages:

Bluetooth enabled vehicles and bluetooth hands free kits do not come with a cell phone holder for a specific cell phone or PDA and this poses several disadvantages:

a-the user does not have a convenient place to dock the phone and view the phone display.

b-the phone battery will not charge unless the phone is plugged into a cigarette lighter power supply

c-the phone battery will be used faster because the phone uses battery power to establish a bluetooth link, stay linked and uses extra energy during a call because it must use power for the bluetooth connection with the car kit and the cellular call.

d-the cell phone is not connected to an external antenna or booster and signal is not as good when compared to a traditional kit with holder.

e-if a user leaves the bluetooth link between the phone and car kit connected and is close to the vehicle but is not in the vehicle and a call comes in, the phone will only ring in the car kit and even if the ring is heard and the call is engaged by the user, the conversation will not be heard through the phone, it will be audible in the car only. For example, a person comes home, puts their car in the garage, takes the phone out and sets it on the kitchen counter and a call comes in, the user cannot use their phone unless they go back out the vehicle very quickly. If the phone is far away from the vehicle then the bluetooth link is inactive, however some phones and kits can stay linked over relatively large distances as far as 30 to 100 feet. The distance that a bluetooth link will cover varies between cell phones, brands of bluetooth car kits and location of the bluetooth phone and car kit. The only way to be sure that a phone bluetooth link is not active (when in close proximity) is to de-link the phone from the bluetooth kit. Linking and de-linking a phone from a kit is an obvious disadvantage over a traditional kit.

f-Bluetooth hands free kits are more expensive than traditional hands free car kits.

How to overcome bluetooth deficiencies with Smoothtalker bluetooth hands free kits:

Bluetooth hands free kits have several disadvantages when compared to traditional install kits and Smoothtalker brand bluetooth address the issues and solve the problems.

a-smoothtalker bluetooth hands free kit junction boxes have been optimized and designed to match the phone or PDA for which they are sold. That is to say that a Smooth Talker bluetooth hands free kit is made for the Motorola V3 Razr will perform with outstanding speaker voice quality at high volume and the hands free microphone will have noise reduction to match the phone and reduce road noise and there will not be any echo to the user or caller, a common problem that plagues many other bluetooth hands free kits. A smoothtalker bluetooth hands free kit will work with any bluetooth cell phone or PDA like all bluetooth hands free kits but it is guaranteed to perform correctly only with the phone or PDA for which it is designed.

b-SmoothTalker bluetooth hands free kits are offered with various matched cell phone and PDA holders that offer docking, charging, and external cell antenna connection.

c-SmoothTalker hands free kits offer privacy handsets. This is a feature that is unique to Smoothtalker bluetooth hands free in car kits.

d-SmoothTalker bluetooth hands free kits are not advertised or sold as "one kit fits all" devices. All of our bluetooth car kits are specific to the cell phone or PDA for which they are purchased and guaranteed to work properly for that device.