What is a Smart Home? Everything You Need to Know - TechTarget
A smart home is a residence that uses internet-connected devices to enable the remote monitoring and management of appliances and systems, such as lighting and ...
Bluetooth
All devices -- such as lights, thermostats, security systems and appliances -- are controlled by a master home automation controller, often called a smart home hub. This hub is a hardware device that acts as the central point of the smart home system and can sense, process data and communicate wirelessly. It combines all the disparate apps into a single smart home app that homeowners can control remotely. Examples of smart home hubs include Amazon Echo, Google Home and Wink Hub. While many smart home products use Wi-Fi and <anchor>Bluetooth</anchor> to connect to the smart home network, others depend on wireless protocols such as Zigbee or Z-Wave.
What is Bluetooth? Definition from SearchMobileComputing
What is Bluetooth? Definition from SearchMobileComputing

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Definition

# Bluetooth

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## What is Bluetooth?

Bluetooth is a telecommunications industry specification that describes how mobile devices, computers and other endpoints can easily communicate with each other using a short-range [wireless](https://www.techtarget.com/searchmobilecomputing/definition/wireless) connection.

## What is Bluetooth used for?

Early Bluetooth versions enabled users of cellular phones, pagers and [personal digital assistants](https://www.techtarget.com/searchmobilecomputing/definition/personal-digital-assistant) to buy a three-in-one phone that could perform the following functions:

- Double as a portable phone at home or in the office.
- Quickly synchronize with information in a desktop or notebook computer.
- Initiate the sending or receiving of a fax.
- Initiate a printout.

In general, this phone enabled all mobile and fixed computer devices to be totally coordinated over a short distance. More recent Bluetooth versions make it possible for a user to place hands-free phone calls through a mobile phone or connect wireless headphones to a [smartphone's](https://www.techtarget.com/searchmobilecomputing/definition/smartphone) music playlist, for example.

Bluetooth technology can simplify tasks that previously involved copious wires strewn among peripheral devices. For instance, a user can wirelessly connect a Bluetooth-enabled printer to a desktop, laptop or mobile device and print out documents. It is also possible to sync a wireless keyboard with a tablet-style device, such as an Apple [iPad](https://www.techtarget.com/searchmobilecomputing/definition/iPad) or Kindle Fire, or even a DVD player with a television.

With Bluetooth technology, users can print a document from their smartphone.

Additionally, mobile operating systems enable users to stream media, such as movies, television shows and music, to compatible TVs, speakers and media players via Bluetooth.

Laptop or desktop computers without built-in Bluetooth can gain those capabilities through an inexpensive USB dongle. The one caveat here is that Bluetooth technology typically uses considerable battery power, so users should monitor it closely to prevent their device's battery from running out.

A USB dongle can provide Bluetooth capabilities to some devices.

## How does Bluetooth work?

Bluetooth technology requires that each device include a low-cost [transceiver](https://www.techtarget.com/searchnetworking/definition/transceiver) chip. The transceiver transmits and receives in a previously unused frequency band of 2.45 GHz that is available globally -- with some variation of bandwidth in different countries. In addition to data, up to three voice channels are available. Each device has a unique 48-bit address from the [IEEE](https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/IEEE-Institute-of-Electrical-and-Electronics-Engineers) 802 standard. Bluetooth connections can be point to point or multipoint.

The maximum Bluetooth range is 100 meters, although most devices support a range of up to 10 meters. Data can be exchanged at a rate of 1 megabit per second -- up to 2 [Mbps](https://www.techtarget.com/searchnetworking/definition/Mbps) in the second generation of the technology. A [frequency hop scheme](https://www.techtarget.com/searchnetworking/definition/frequency-hopping-spread-spectrum) enables devices to communicate even in areas with a great deal of electromagnetic interference. Bluetooth provides built-in encryption and verification.

The technology got its unusual name in honor of [Harald Bluetooth](http://historymedren.about.com/od/hwho/p/Harald-Bluetooth.htm), king of Denmark in the mid-10th century.

This was last updated in May 2024

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Vendor Resources

- [Top 12 most commonly used IoT protocols and standards](https://www.bitpipe.com/detail/RES/1660149588_383.html)–TechTarget ComputerWeekly.com
- [Bluetooth Low Energy: The IoT battle](https://www.bitpipe.com/detail/RES/1525960176_118.html)–TechTarget ComputerWeekly.com

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