Bluetooth is a wireless communication technology that allows devices, within a 10-meter proximity, to communicate with each other. The discovery process enables devices to query other devices about the services they offer. If a device offers more than one service, the user can select the service they want to use from that particular device. This technology enables devices to communicate without physical cables. Wireless headsets, modems, and printers are prime examples of devices using Bluetooth technology.
Bluetooth has adopted a common data and object specification that enables devices to communicate over a wireless connection in a standard way. This allows applications to use typical interfaces when exchanging data, business cards, and calendar entries.
The Bluetooth stack implementation is modular. It is a general-purpose software stack, and is linked by default, or modularized to meet specific usage scenarios and OEM needs. In Microsoft® Windows® CE, the primary way an application can use Bluetooth is through the Winsock interface, which exposes RFCOMM protocol. The Winsock Interface Sample demonstrates the use of this interface. Virtual COM ports are also exposed, but this interface is designed to be enabled under existing OS services such as UNIMODEM or terminal emulators. By using various protocols and profiles, Bluetooth can be implemented to perform the following tasks:
- Connect to a modem through a cellular phone.
- Connect to a local area network (LAN) access point.
- Enable object exchange and synchronization using the Object Exchange Protocol (OBEX).