What is Bluetooth and how do I use it? | Samsung UK (2024)

FAQs

What is the purpose of using Bluetooth? ›

Bluetooth technology allows devices to communicate with each other without cables or wires. Bluetooth relies on short-range radio frequency, and any device that incorporates the technology can communicate as long as it is within the required distance.

Bluetooth technology connects PCs and mobile devices to peripherals such as wireless headphones, keyboards, mice, and gaming controllers. Bluetooth devices communicate via short-range radio transmissions on the 2.4 GHz frequency range.

Bluetooth technology is primarily used to wirelessly connect peripherals to mobile phones, desktops, and laptops. Some of the most common Bluetooth accessories include mice, keyboards, speakers, and headphones. Many gaming controllers use Bluetooth technology for wireless connectivity as well.

In addition, Bluetooth, because it requires only an adapter on each connecting device, tends to be simpler to use and needs less power than Wi-Fi, although this is achieved at the expense of range and speed of data transfer, in which Wi-Fi typically exceeds Bluetooth's capabilities.

While Bluetooth is beneficial for many applications, be careful how you use it. My advice: Turn off Bluetooth when you're not using it. Keeping it active all the time makes your device more discoverable. As a bonus, keeping Bluetooth off will increase your device's battery life.

Turn Bluetooth off when not in use. Keeping it active enables hackers to discover what other devices you connected to before, spoof one of those devices, and gain access to your device. If you connect your mobile phone to a rental car, the phone's data may get shared with the car.

Bluetooth provides sufficient security for most purposes, although it is not intended as a fully secure protocol. However, using WiFi can help if you're concerned about sensitive data transmission.

You've no doubt heard news stories over the years about these security and data breaches, so we recommend always switching off Bluetooth when you don't need to use it. On top of that, always try and keep an eye on your phone to make sure it never automatically connects to any devices that are nearby.

Even though Bluetooth won't drain your battery in most instances, one noticeable area that impacts battery life is streaming audio through Bluetooth headphones or speakers. The constant use of your phone with the addition of Bluetooth running will ultimately result in your battery life dying quicker.

The Bluetooth logo is a bind rune merging the Younger Futhark runes (Hagall) (ᚼ) and (Bjarkan) (ᛒ), Harald's initials.

Why is it called Bluetooth? ›

Bluetooth is the Anglicised version of the Scandinavian Blåtand/Blåtann (or in Old Norse blátǫnn). It was the epithet of King Harald Bluetooth, who united the disparate Danish tribes into a single kingdom; Kardach chose the name to imply that Bluetooth similarly unites communication protocols.

One notable advantage of Bluetooth is its ability to function independently, even without an active WiFi network or mobile data. Bluetooth devices can establish direct connections with each other, bypassing the need for internet access.

You can use Bluetooth to connect some devices to your phone without a cord. After you pair a Bluetooth device for the first time, your devices can connect automatically.

Bluetooth is a wireless technology that lets devices communicate over a short range. You've most likely used Bluetooth to connect your phone to wireless headphones, set up a smart home device, share files, or even secure your home using a smart lock.

It can be used in wireless headsets, wireless PANs, and LANs. It can connect a digital camera wireless to a mobile phone. It can transfer data in terms of videos, songs, photographs, or files from one cell phone to another cell phone or computer.

Bluetooth is useful because it eliminates the need for cables and wires when connecting devices together.

Pairing is performed to establish keys which can then be used to encrypt a link. A transport specific key distribution is then performed to share the keys. The keys can be used to encrypt a link in future reconnections, verify signed data, or perform random address resolution. In general, there are 3-phase for paring.