
About Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a wireless technology that eliminates the need for many cables that traditionally connect devices together.
Bluetooth enabled devices, such as computers, mobile phones, handheld devices (PDAs), and wireless input devices, such as a keyboard or mouse, can connect to each other wirelessly at distances up to 10 meters (33 feet).
To connect to devices using Bluetooth, you need to do the following:
- Make sure your computer or device is Bluetooth enabled. The computer or device must have a Bluetooth module installed, or you need to connect a USB Bluetooth adapter to the computer. For information about purchasing a USB Bluetooth adapter that works with your Mac, go to Apple's Bluetooth website.
- Use the Bluetooth Setup Assistant, located in Applications/Utilities to set up your device to work with your computer by "pairing" the device with your computer. Once you have paired a device with your computer, you see the device listed in the Devices pane of Bluetooth preferences. For more information about pairing, click "Tell me more."
- After you've paired your devices, you're ready to make a Bluetooth connection. The way you do this depends on the the device you're using. For example, if you're using a mobile phone to connect to the Internet, choose the phone in the Configuration pop-up menu in Internet Connect and click Connect. If you are sending a file to another Bluetooth enabled computer, choose Send File from the Bluetooth status menu in the menu bar, select a file to send, and then click Search to find the computer you want to send the file to. For more information about using Bluetooth with paired devices, click "Tell me more."
Bluetooth wireless technology is different from 802.11 (or Wi-Fi) technology. Bluetooth devices transfer data at 1 megabit per second (Mbps), and 802.11 wireless devices transmit data at a much faster speed, up to 54 Mbps.