Bluetooth in India

[garcons]

Bluetooth still isnt vey big in India. People have been purchasing BT dongles for their PC's but still a majority chucnk have been sticking to the old IR. I dont know how expensive a BT dongle is in India but i'm sure it wont be that expensive that one cant replce their IR with BT.

Do you use a BT enabled mobile phone? What else do you use BT for?

[Ankur]

Though i don't own a bluetooth mobile, i feel that this wireless technology has tremendous potential in India in times to come.

I have heard that companies use this technology for their PCs, laptops, printers and the like.

[garcons]

Ankur, yes ofcourse BT would be big in India but lately i've been reading a lot about NFC(Near Field Communication) and ultra wide band that could be a threat to Bt tech, but only the future would tell.

Some of the little things that i use Bt for:
- Controlling winamp music on my PC from my cell phone.
- Controlling my TV with the phone.
- Controlling the DVD player with the phone.
- Controlling Powerpoint presentations on the PC from the phone.
- Bluejacking (My favvvv)
- Using IM on my phone using the internet connection from the PC.
- Surfing websites on the phone as above.

Imagine controlling fridges, washing machines and heaters with your BT enabled phone.

[Editor]

Though i have heard of Bluetooth is some kind of wireless technology, but to be frank i am not much aware of it. It is nice to see that it can be used in such amazing ways. It sure seems to have great potential.

Garcons, though i understood others, what did you mean by bluejacking? Can you explain...

[garcons]

Charu,

Jacking kinda rhymes with hacking and since it uses Bluetooth tech, they termed it as BlueJacking. Well, its not hacking exactly, but you can send messages to other Bluetooth mobile users.

For eg: If you are in a shopping mall, and you notice someone with a BT enabled phone, and you notice the person is wearing a Blue tshirt, you can send him a message saying "hey there, thats a nice blue tshirt you are wearing"

Not many people are aware of this, so basically when they receive the message they are kinda shocked, and its fun watching them turn all over trying to figure out whats happening.

I did this to an old man in the bank, while he was on handsfree, and sent him a message saying "Virus installing......" and then a couple of secs later, i sent him another one saying "Virus installed..." and you should have seen his face, he just hurried and left the bank.

P.s-> Bluejacking is NOT possible with all BT enabled phones, but works like a charm with a Sony Ericson.

[Editor]

Thanks for the info garcons...

Bluejacking seems to be a pretty hep concept...technology for sure is going places...

It must be very interesting experience as you are getting in touch with strangers...and it will work if the other person takes it in the right spirit.

[Ankur]

Hey u can really play pranks with this bluejacking stuff...i will say it is a great concept

[garcons]

You surely can play nice pranks with the technology, but with the way its advancing, there sure will be a time when you could get viruses on your cell phone too, like the latest Cabir virus, though it didnt do any harm, but if there is a capability of a virus spreading on its own, someone could write a virus to do harm to the phone too.

My 2 cents on this is that int he near future it might be possible to use someone else phone to make calls. I dont know if i am right or wrong or this could be possible or no, but from where i see it, it indeed is a possibility.

One can send a vrius to another BT user, and set that phone as a gateway to make calls, or maybe just plain SMS.

Wodya reckon? Possible?

[garcons]

The latest to hit the Bluetooth market is a Bluetooth enabled burglar alarm. It's still in testing phase and the manufactures are working if it really is a helpful option or no.
The way it works is, you put the alarm under your desk if you are setting the burglar alarm for your PC. If the PC is moved, the alarm goes off.

It sounds a little crazy that you'd have one alarm for each product, if since BT tech is very cheap, these alarms would be available at a cheap price too. The manufactures are working if they could have multiple Bluetooth devices and multiple Bluetooth alarms to work with each other, so if things are not supposed to move, and they are moved the alarm would go off.

Another interesting feature of Bluetooth technology I'd say. I wonder when i can get my hands on a Bluetooth fridge and a Bluetooth washing machine.

[Editor]

This concept of burglar alarm seems good. I don't see any use though of this in an office as there is appropriate security...but yes might be helpful for home purposes.

Just explain this: If i am out of my home somewhere and my PC is touched at home(let's assume by a burglar), then will i come to know where i am....or the alarm will sound in the home itself...