Maybe it's me.....Why all the hype over Bluetooth?

[Guest Greywolf_Ghost]

I am grinding my teeth to get at a smartphone, being in Canada bites because there is noting on the market here yet. All my options have some sort of money transfer to another country which means exchange rates and all. Anyway every time I think I have the phone I want picked, some maker adds to the pot.

Things I have deemed to be important to me.

SDIO support ( for added gadgit add on ability)

Strong PC Sync ability

Speed for NES emulation

MP3 & Video ability

I just don't get what Bluetooth will add. Will it be like Wifi? Will there be BT hotspots someday?

So what is all the hype over Bluetooth?

Are there better benifits? Is this going to be the next IR down the road?

So say I buy a BT phone what extra things will I be able to do with it?

Sorry if the questions here seem lame, but I have yet to catch the Bluetooth fever and want to understand.

[Guest midnight]

well, for a start it allows you to wirelessly sync with your pc and browse the net

yes, there are some hotspots, especially usefull at some of the shows such as ECTS, where you can receive info from the stands direct to your handset

and not forgetting bluetooth wireless headsets, and even the potential for wireless multiplayer gaming

[Guest mcwarre]

Definately the headsets (and bluetooth car kits). Use of a mobile phone in a car unless using a wirefree headset / car kit will soon be illegal with 3 penalty points and £60 fine in the UK; so useful for that alone!

[Guest Crispy]

The three main things im looking foward is the bluetooth headsets, the wireless sync capabilities and then the cute little bluetooth controlled toy car that Sony is making :wink:

[Guest madu]

@Crispy: Yeah man, the car looks impressive3, but will it need special soft for controlling it? I guess so.

[Guest morpheus2702]

I bought an Ericsson T39 in December 2001, and a T68i in August 2002 - both Bluetooth equipped. At the time, there was absolutely nothing available, so it was novelty value only.

Now, I'd love to have Bluetooth on my E100. No hassle with connecting cables or aligning IR ports when synching, BT headsets now becoming affordable enough to take a chance on.

Trust me, within a year BT will feature on your 'like to have' list!

[Guest chucky.egg]

Definately the headsets (and bluetooth car kits). Use of a mobile phone in a car unless using a wirefree headset / car kit will soon be illegal with 3 penalty points and £60 fine in the UK; so useful for that alone!

It's not quite as clear cut as all that

Check this link from the DfT website.

Basically it says...

Q2. Is hands-free phone equipment allowed?

Provided that a phone can be operated without holding it, then hands-free equipment is not prohibited by the new regulation...And pushing buttons on a phone while it is in a cradle or on the steering wheel or handlebars of a motorbike for example is not covered by the new offence, provided you don't hold the phone.

Q16. Is the offence endorsable?

No. The offence is subject to a £30 fixed penalty or maximum fine of £1000 for conviction in court (maximum of £2,500 for drivers of goods vehicles or buses/coaches...However, we do plan to increase the penalty for the new offence by making it subject to 3 penalty points and a £60 fixed penalty.

But also...

Drivers should remember that the police can still use existing legislation (for failure to have proper control) if a driver is distracted by a call on a hands-free phone

So wired handsfree are still OK, but if you have an accident ANY use of the phone could be seen as "failure to have proper control"

[Guest jim]

@Crispy: Yeah man, the car looks impressive3, but will it need special soft for controlling it? I guess so.

http://www.sonyericsson.com/uk/spg.jsp?tem..._LM=Acc&start=0

At the moment its only compatible with a small selection of SE Phones

[Guest mores]

use a bluetooth headset for a day ... and you'll never use your phone without one again.

btw ... driving while holding a phone to your ear is now illegal in many countries in europe.

[Guest msteele]

The new Acura TL (and a few other cars) have built-in bluetooth connectivity for hands-free cell phone operation through the audio system. There is a button on the steering wheel to make calls, and incoming call info is displayed on the dash. Coolest feature though is the integration with the voice controlled navigation system. Tell the system to find the nearest Chinese restaurant, and it will send the commands to the phone to call the number. I think when more automobile manufacturers start incorporating this, this might be the "killer app" that bluetooth needs to reach critical mass.

[Guest jim]

Yes they've got bluetooth systems like this in new BMWs, shame the P800/900 doesnt work properly with it though