Bluetooth Dongle

A Bluetooth dongle is a device that connects to a computer and allows it to communicate with other Bluetooth devices. Bluetooth is a communication protocol used by wireless personal area networks (PANs). Bluetooth utilises a short-range radio frequency, which is both secure and globally unlicensed and provides a way to connect and exchange information between devices like mobile phones, laptops, PCs, video game consoles, digital cameras, and printers.

In order to be able to communicate with other Bluetooth devices (such as mobile phones, mice and keyboards), a computer must have a Bluetooth adapter. Though most new laptops and desktops feature internal Bluetooth adapters, the trend is relatively new and a majority of personal computers (laptops and desktops) require external USB Bluetooth dongles. Most Macintosh computers however do feature internal Bluetooth adapters. A single Bluetooth dongle can be used to communicate with multiple Bluetooth devices.

As most personal computers do come with multiple USB ports, the USB Bluetooth dongle is the most widely used external Bluetooth adapter. Bluetooth dongles, if classified on the basis of their range, are of three types; Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3. Class 1 Bluetooth dongles have a range of 100 meters, while the Class 2 and Class 3 Bluetooth devices have ranges of 10 meters and 1 meters respectively.