Bluetooth vs. Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 in networking

IEEE 802.11 wireless local area networks also known as Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth wireless personal area networks have independently become the leading wireless network technologies. Both technologies are finding their way into a growing number of mobile devices such as cellphones, smartphones, PDAs, and laptops. Both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth utilize the unlicensed 2.4 GHz ISM band, resulting in a potential for interference between the two.

In mobile devices, where the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi radios are collocated in the same device, interference issues become more severe, and need to be dealt with using special mechanisms.Bluetooth and Wi-Fi have many applications in today's offices, homes, and on the move: setting up networks, printing, or transferring presentations and files from PDAs to computers. Both are versions of unlicensed wireless technology. Wi-Fi is intended for resident equipment and its applications. The category of applications is outlined as WLAN, the wireless local area networks. Wi-Fi is intended as a replacement for cabling for general local area network access in work areas. Bluetooth is intended for non resident equipment and its applications. The category of applications is outlined as the wireless personal area network (WPAN).


Bluetooth is a replacement for cabling in a variety of personally carried applications in any ambience.Bluetooth is a standard and a communications protocol primarily designed for low power consumption, with a short range (power-class-dependent: 1 metre, 10 metres, 100 metres) based on low-cost transceiver microchips in each device. Bluetooth makes it possible for these devices to communicate with each other when they are in range. Because the devices use a radio (broadcast) communications system, they do not have to be in line of sight of each other.Now -a-days Bluetooth exists in many products, such as telephones, the Wii, PlayStation 3, PSP Go, Lego Mindstorms NXT and recently in some high definition watches, modems and headsets. The technology is useful when transferring information between two or more devices that are near each other in low-bandwidth situations. Bluetooth is commonly used to transfer sound data with telephones or byte data with hand-held computers.Wi-Fi is a traditional Ethernet network, and requires configuration to set up shared resources, transmit files, and to set up audio links (for example, headsets and hands-free devices). Wi-Fi uses the same radio frequencies as Bluetooth, but with higher power, resulting in a stronger connection. Wi-Fi is sometimes called "wireless Ethernet." This description is accurate, as it also provides an indication of its relative strengths and weaknesses. Wi-Fi requires more setup but is better suited for operating full-scale networks; it enables a faster connection, better range from the base station, and better security than Bluetooth.

Bluetooth vs. Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 in networking