What is the difference between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi?

Bluetooth® and WiFi® are both wireless technologies that use radio frequency (RF) waves to create networks, but they’re used

for fundamentally different purposes. Bluetooth®’s main purpose is to temporarily link an individual’s personal devices

together over short distances, while WiFi’s purpose is to link multiple computers together over longer distances.

Although Bluetooth® and WiFi both create networks, Bluetooth® creates a Personal Area Network (PAN) by generating low

frequency radio waves that all Bluetooth®-enabled devices in the immediate area can join to be interoperable. You might think

of this as a “shroud” surrounding an individual user. A Bluetooth® headset, for example, allows hands-free cell phone use for

driving or working. Other types of personal devices can swap files, synchronize data and even share access to the Internet

through an Internet-enabled laptop, cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA) or iPod®.

A Bluetooth® network can also be used to send files from your laptop to your desktop, or from your laptop to your printer. If

a machine does not come with Bluetooth® capability built-in, adapters are available. Most adapters make use of a Universal

Serial Bus (USB) port, but other types of adapters are also available.

WiFi also uses radio frequency (RF) waves, but its protocols are designed to connect multiple computers. In the case of a

business, WiFi allows many computers to communicate with each other without stringing cable between them, saving considerable

money and time in the installation process. Computers operating over the WiFi LAN can share databases, files, programs and

resources including printers, scanners and fax machines. The computers might also share Internet access, though this isn’t a

requirement of a LAN.

A home WiFi network is almost always setup to share Internet access among all computers in the household, while it may or may

not be configured to share files and resources. Between Bluetooth® and WiFi, Bluetooth® is much easier to use for swapping

files between computers at home, and even for sending files to a nearby printer. There is virtually no setup involved in

establishing a Bluetooth® network, while a LAN requires some configuration and know-how to allow sharing of files and

resources.

Since Bluetooth® works with battery operated devices, it most commonly uses a low-powered Class 2 radio to broadcast the RF

network, generating a weak signal that doesn’t extend effectively beyond 30 feet (~10 meters) or so. Class 1 Bluetooth® can

reach 10x further, geared towards connecting home devices powered by electricity. WiFi also comes in different flavors and

architectures, currently meeting or exceeding the 300-foot (~100m) range.

Bluetooth® and WiFi each follow specific protocols and standards that make it easy for manufacturers to design and market

Bluetooth® and WiFi products that will be interoperable with other brands and products that support the same standards. For

example, as of winter 2008 the current Bluetooth® standard is 2.0 and the newest available WiFi standard is 802.11n, faster

than the previous standard, 802.11g. When shopping for network-capable devices, be sure they support the desired standard and

version.

Another way that Bluetooth® and WiFi differ is that WiFi is supported by modems and routers, while a near-infinite range of

products might support Bluetooth®. Personal devices and home entertainment products are forever evolving, making

interoperability a highly desired feature. Perhaps the biggest commonality between Bluetooth® and WiFi is that both

technologies are incredibly useful and widespread; in homes, businesses, government, and in virtually every aspect of life.