Almost all of the latest gadgets from personal computers and laptops to cell phones, media players, headsets and digital cameras have it – Bluetooth capability – leaving many non-technical people wondering, what’s the big deal about Bluetooth?.

Simply put, Bluetooth is a technology that uses radio waves to allow wireless connection between electronic devices. This means that if your laptop has a Bluetooth feature and your digital camera has it, too, then you can send information from one device to another without hooking any wires or cables between the two.

Wireless communication is the big deal about Bluetooth, eliminating the unsightly and sometimes unsafe cable connections between devices. If you have a number of electronic hardware at home that are connected to each other, you would know that all the wires can be a mess and you would understand why many people are excited about the Bluetooth technology. In addition, Bluetooth makes traveling with a laptop or mobile devices convenient because there is no need to bring any cables.

While the foremost feature of Bluetooth is wireless communication, it is not the first technology to offer it. Infrared or IR communication has been around for decades now and also facilitates short-range wireless transmission of data among peripherals. The most common example of the usage of this wireless technology is the TV remote control.

So, why is Bluetooth more popular than infrared? The two reasons for this are first, it is a technology that works when the devices are directly in light of sight of each other and second, it usually runs just a one-to-one connection. Bluetooth was developed to work as a great alternative to infrared.

Like infrared, another benefit of Bluetooth technology is its affordability. It is inexpensive for telecommunications and computer companies to implement and the lower costs are also enjoyed by consumers. Bluetooth is very user-friendly in such a way that there is no need for any setup between devices for the technology to work.

When two Bluetooth-enabled devices come into each other’s range, there is an automatic connection without the user doing anything. In fact, a user can instantly have a personal area network comprising of up to 7 connections of Bluetooth-enabled devices, provided they are all within 30 feet of each other. The drawback of this instant communication is the possibility of sending or receiving data accidentally, especially in a room full of Bluetooth devices. That is why most people turn off the feature in a public place.

Although Bluetooth uses short-frequency radio waves, interference from other wireless communications is not a problem because it also uses the “frequency hopping” technique wherein it quickly and continuously switch from one frequency to another to lessen the interception of a transmission.

Bluetooth also uses low-power signals that are also very energy efficient, which means when you use the Bluetooth function of your device it draws off very little power from the device’s battery – another reason why mobile people love it.

The Bluetooth technology is an international standard. All of the leading global technology companies use it in their products, which mean that electronic devices with this feature are guaranteed to communicate with each other regardless of the type and model of the devices. Additionally, developers are further creating upgraded versions of this technology making it more useful and relevant.

With its many advantages and applications and few downsides, it is no wonder why Bluetooth has become tremendously popular. As the demand for it grows, more and more manufacturers are coming up with devices that include Bluetooth technology to attract even more users. Because of this, many industry watchers and technology users agree that Bluetooth technology will stay for several more years to come.