ALKHOBAR, 24 April 2007 — Bluetooth technology has been around for about a decade now and it finally seems to be coming of age. Like many, I was enthusiastic when the first mobile handsets were available with Bluetooth. I thought that by using a Bluetooth headset I would finally free myself from the wires that up to that point were essential for hands free conversation. At this moment two of those expensive Bluetooth headsets are thrown in a drawer and will never be used. They were simply too bulky, functioned poorly and I could never remember to keep them charged.

But Bluetooth has come a long way and enhanced specifications have encouraged me to take another look at the technology. While I still don’t fancy Bluetooth headsets, I do use Bluetooth to transfer files between different Bluetooth enabled devices. It’s a whole lot easier than hooking up cables to everything. My PlayStation came with a Bluetooth controller and I also use a wireless mouse and keyboard.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Bluetooth, it should be explained that Bluetooth wireless technology is the short-range wireless standard for personal connectivity of a broad range of electronic devices. In other words, Bluetooth enabled devices near to each other can communicate wirelessly. The technology is now available in the fourth version of the core specification and continues to develop. The installed base of Bluetooth devices is over one billion and climbing, with 13 million Bluetooth units shipping per week. Bluetooth is a standard feature in mobile phones and now the technology is found in loads of other digital devices, too. Laptops, PDAs, audio headsets, vehicles, media players, keyboards, mice, printers, gaming controllers, medical devices, camcorders, projectors and digital cameras are all using Bluetooth.

Would you like to transfer a file from your mobile phone to your notebook? Use Bluetooth. You can listen to the songs in your MP3 player on a vehicle’s sound system courtesy of Bluetooth. Answering your phone with your wristwatch and listening to your music with your jacket are both possible through the magic of Bluetooth. In the future, a new client/server application, TransSend, will allow users to wirelessly transfer Internet content such as maps, addresses, phone numbers and text messages from a Bluetooth enabled PC to another mobile Bluetooth device such as a phone or PDA. Enhanced Bluetooth will lead to the transfer of high-quality video and audio streaming, as well.

Bluetooth works when two devices are “paired” or configured to recognize each other. Then, they can connect and share data. Pairing used to be a hassle, but last month the trade association Bluetooth SIG announced details of a new specification, Bluetooth Core Specification Version 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), that will overcome pairing and power consumption issues.

Currently, there are many variations of the user experience when connecting Bluetooth devices, either for a one-time, permanent pairing or for ad-hoc file sharing. The experience depends on several factors, from the ease of finding menus on different devices to the use of security features. The improved pairing provides a consistent and intuitive pairing solution that includes finding devices, securing the link and authenticating the devices. The improved pairing process reduces the steps for the user, improves the security and establishes the connection in only a few seconds.

The improved pairing also takes the burden off the user to come up with a long, personal identification number (PIN) to ensure a secure connection. Instead, users achieve the effective encryption strength of a 16-digit alphanumeric code without any user interaction. For example, under the new specification, pairing a Bluetooth headset and mobile phone will be as easy as turning on the headset, selecting “Add Headset” from the phone menu, and then watching the phone confirm it has found, connected with an encrypted link and paired the headset.

To prevent any threat of a “Man in the Middle” attack, under the new standard a Bluetooth device utilizing simple pairing can provide an additional security layer by generating a six-digit passkey that the user enters to verify control of both devices. This passkey is different from a PIN code in that it is provided by the initiating device and unique to each connection sequence so that the user does not have to create or retain any codes to enjoy secure communication.

Near Field Communication (NFC) technology may also be used in the new pairing system whereby a user would hold two devices together at a very short range to start the quick pairing process.

As for enhanced power optimization, Bluetooth Version 2.1 + EDR will provide optimized power consumption through a feature called “Sniff Subrating” which increases current battery life by up to five times in many products like mice, keyboards, watches, home sensor networks and medical devices. All devices with Bluetooth Version 2.1 + EDR will be backward compatible with all earlier Bluetooth specifications and will support pairing techniques employed by devices without the improved pairing feature.

With any technology there are usually positives and negatives. Bluetooth has been saddled with a bad reputation in the Kingdom, mostly because people don’t understand how to prevent its abuse. When two Bluetooth devices are paired, the pairing must be done in what is called “Discoverable” mode. After the pairing is completed the devices should be switched back to nondiscoverable mode so they are hidden.

Unfortunately, most people fail to follow that simple step. Then hackers, pornographers and other criminals feel that they have been invited to take advantage of the Bluetooth device.

Be smart. Make sure you know whether the Bluetooth functionality in your digital device is on or off and keep the device in nondiscoverable mode except during pairing. Until the new security standards are common, use PIN codes of at least six digits when pairing devices and don’t use a common sequence such as 123456. Enable encryption when such functionality is offered. Reject all unexpected and unknown pairing requests and check your device’s list of paired devices regularly to ensure that there are no unrecognized devices on the list.

Lastly, update the firmware in PDAs, mobile handsets and other equipment to the latest version since vendors use firmware upgrades to patch security holes.

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