Do You Need Bluetooth for Tethering?
Smartphone users with appropriate data plans and mobile computing devices like laptops or tablet computers may find it more convenient to access the Internet over the phone’s wireless network than find a fixed Internet hot spot. Though Bluetooth wireless connections can support this type of access, known as tethering, mobile users can also connect over a variety of other methods.
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Function
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Bluetooth wireless connections facilitate the transfer of data across short distances, usually less than about 30 feet. According to Scientific American, Bluetooth devices like laptops and mobile phones can establish a secure wireless connection with one another through a process called pairing; once paired, the devices exchange security codes and sporadically change frequencies to keep the connection secure and free of interference. The devices can exchange a significant amount of information over this connection, including Internet connectivity.
Benefits
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Using a Bluetooth connection to tether a mobile device for Internet connectivity allows users to access the Internet from almost anywhere with wireless Internet service. Because Bluetooth technology changes frequencies, these connections remain relatively stable and free of interference when compared with other wireless tethering options. In addition, Bluetooth tethering features automatic security precautions that can prevent unauthorized access to the user’s Internet connection.
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Alternatives
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Though Bluetooth tethering offers a secure and stable way to wirelessly share a phone’s Internet connection, mobile users have other options for getting online while on the road. Many smartphones allow users to establish a wireless fidelity, or Wi-Fi, hot spot using the phone’s built-in Wi-Fi antenna. Because this method of tethering uses the same wireless technology found in many home and office settings, Wi-Fi connections may seem more familiar and comfortable to some users. Users whose phones do not support Wi-Fi or Bluetooth may still be able to use the devices to connect to the Internet; according to Google, some mobile devices allow users to access the Internet by connecting a wire between the phone and the computer’s Universal Serial Bus, or USB, port.
Considerations
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Despite the advantages that Bluetooth offers, users should keep some important considerations in mind when using this technology. Many Bluetooth-enabled devices can only pair with one device at a time, so users may experience difficulty using a wireless headset with a phone while also using Bluetooth tethering. In addition, the range of Bluetooth connections is limited to about 30 feet, so users must keep the mobile device and phone physically close to one another to maintain connectivity. Finally, not all Bluetooth-enabled devices support wireless tethering, and users may find themselves using traditional Wi-Fi or even a physically wired connection.
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References
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