The Pluses Of Bluetooth Technology
Bluetooth technology has a key advantage over competitors. Because its popularity as a wireless technology over short distances is beyond doubt, many other technologies enable compatibility with Bluetooth as a selling point for hardware and software. One of Bluetooth's first applications was in the development of hands free cellular technology. The popularity of Bluetooth technology in this area of the marketplace, buoyed by the obvious need for hands free kits, allowed for the expansion of Bluetooth into other areas.
Freeing up a network from physical connectivity through Bluetooth technology is a key advantage in using it over conventional LANs (Local Area Networks).
A rival to Bluetooth's dominance in the wireless sector is infrared technology. The necessity for line of sight is a disadvantage of infrared. Unlike Bluetooth, infrared technology can't penetrate walls or other obstacles.
Bluetooth technology can be employed at a range of distances, up to 100 meters, thus providing just enough distance between two communicating devices.
Low on processor and battery power, Bluetoth is very compatible with smaller devices as it makes very little demand on the battery. Cellphones, Blackberries and other portable technologies can utilize Bluetooth technology without draining excessive amounts of energy. Its overhead protocol is also a boon for these small devices.
The very popularity of Bluetooth technology is itself a major advantage in its use. The chances of any device being Bluetooth compatible are greater than that same device having compatibility with other similar wireless technologies or protocols.
The Minuses of Bluetooth Technology
Compared to similar technologies, Bluetooth is hard to beat. Competition in the sector is limited for the very reason that Bluetooth technology is so popular because it works so well. However, it is not without its limitations. Infrared can claim superior data rates over Bluetooth. Infrared technology provides data rates of up to 4 MBps. Bluetooth technology can only claim a quarter the data rate that infrared provides.
So infrared technology holds its own in terms of data transfer. This is one of the reasons that infrared has yet to be reduced to obsolescence. It is often regarded as a complementary technology, and infrared and Bluetooth are often seen working hand in glove on the same network.
The fact that line of sight is required for infrared technology makes infrared by its nature more secure than Bluetooth technology. It is far more difficult to breach the security of a network when the hacker's own device has to be in sight of another device on the network. So the benefit of not needing line of sight becomes a disadvantage for Bluetooth in terms of the possibility of security breaches.
The extended range and greater radio frequency within Bluetooth technology means that it's far more vulnerable to attack. Security is integral to Bluetooth's specifications.