Cutting the Cord with Bluetooth

More than ever, the world around us is rapidly evolving into a perpetual 24/7 barrage of information. For many, the time we spend away from the office is by no means time away from work. We sit in our cars on traffic-jammed freeways talking on our wireless phones while scrolling through PDAs that contain the most intimate details of our lives. The availability of these electronic tools has made our lives easier, but with this convenience comes some new frustrations and even dangers.


Sitting in your car talking on your phone may be an excellent way to save time and keep up on the day's events, but it is hardly a safe way to operate a motor vehicle. And as study after study is released naming cell phones as an increasing cause behind traffic accidents, automakers are looking for ways to enable drivers to use their phones, while keeping the roads safe.

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Enter Bluetooth. For those who may be confused by this highly misleading name, Bluetooth is not the latest trend in dental hygiene; instead it's the latest and greatest in wireless technology. And in an automotive application, Bluetooth has the ability to connect your mobile phone to your car's audio system. You don't even have to take the phone out of your pocket.


This oddly named technology derives its eyebrow-raising moniker from the 10th century Danish ruler, King Herald Bluetooth, who became known for unifying Denmark and Norway. Today, Bluetooth is the new standard for short-range communication between mobile devices. This standard is a list of product specifications that, when employed by electronics manufacturers, allows their product to interact with others from across the industry. Using a simple radio signal, Bluetooth enables products to share information and even work together to expand on individual capabilities.

Bluetooth is the new standard for short-range communication between mobile devices.
This standard is being developed by the non-profit, privately held trade association, Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). Established in 1998, SIG is comprised of some of the world's largest corporations. At the forefront are companies like IBM, Microsoft, Nokia and Motorola, while DaimlerChrysler, Toyota, Nissan, and Volkswagen AG are just a few of the automakers also committed to making the Bluetooth effort work.