What is Multipoint?

Multipoint is a new development in Bluetooth technology that allows your Bluetooth Headset to be connected to two Bluetooth devices at the same time. When a call comes in, the headset knows which handset is ringing and will connect to the phone automatically.

Multipoint can benefit most Bluetooth Headset users. It is ideal if you have to carry around a work phone and a personal phone but don’t want the hassle of having two separate headsets. If you use VOIP telephony at home, but don’t want to be tied down to sitting in front of your PC, Multipoint means you can pair your compatible Bluetooth Headset to your PC and your mobile and no matter which phone rings, the call will come through to your headset.

It’s not just business user that can benefit though, with more MP3 and music systems streaming music via Bluetooth, Multipoint means you can be listening to music on your Stereo Bluetooth Headset or Bluetooth Headphones from your stereo or MP3 player, and when a call comes in, the music will pause/mute allowing you to answer the call on your mobile phone. Music playback will automatically resume once you end your call.

What Multipoint Devices are available?
The range of Multipoint enabled devices is growing quickly, with most new Bluetooth Headsets now supporting multipoint. More recently we’ve seen Multipoint technology find its way into Bluetooth Simple Car Kits, great if both driver and passenger need to go handsfree in the car.

Listed below are some of the latest Multipoint devices.

Multipoint Bluetooth Headsets

The i-Tech Arrow X is an in-ear type Bluetooth headset. It is the perfect combination of function and form. It’s super light weight at 9.4 grams lets you wear comfortably for the duration of the day. Comes with the latest Bluetooth technology v2.0 and noise reduction microphone. Arrow X offers you a stable connection and exceptional clarity at an unbeatable price.

Intelligent, versatile, and elegant. The Nokia BH-904 is an ideal handsfree solution for those who demand quality, style, and clarity. With the latest technology, including digital signal processing (DSP) and a sliding boom microphone, this headset delivers superior performance. A longer lasting battery enables you to talk up to 5 hours with only 15 minutes of charging.

The new Motopure H15 features an exclusive flip design, with an open to talk and a close to save battery function, and has a dual-microphone design. It will automatically enhance frequencies to improve call clarity in both loud and quiet environments. Motopure H15 converts 15 minutes of charging time to over an hour of talk time.

Multipoint Stereo Bluetooth Headsets

The Jabra Halo supports Noise Blackout technology that removes ambient sound. The headset also features dual microphones, which ensure premium quality sound while intelligently filtering background clutter. It also sports advanced DSP technology and Audio Shock Protection to provide balanced sound removing background noise. Read my Jabra Halo hands on review.

The Sony Ericsson HBH-DS980 allows you to wirelessly connect to your phone, PDA or laptop wherever youve saved the music you want to hear. You still wont miss a call, unless you want to. High quality components, technology and design make for high quality sound. Pop in the headphones and enjoy music and conversations in superb clarity.

Bluetooth just got cool thanks to the Jabra BT3030. Not only does it look good, it sounds great. Finally a product that lets you listen to music from your mobile – without damaging your style! Plus the ability to use your own 3.5mm headphones too. The BT3030 plays music from any enabled device such as mobile phone and Mp3 player. Play, pause, skip – remote control your music without touching your mobile.

Multipoint Bluetooth Simple Carkits

Youre in control at all times with the Supertooth Visor One. Its vocal recognition system means you only have to say “OK” to answer the call. The Supertooth One is portable and easy to install, simply attach it with the magnetic clip to any vehicles sun visor and its ready to use. Supports voice dialing and music streaming from compatible mobile phones.

The new slim and stylish Movon MK30 requires no installation, it simply clips to the sun visor. It features superior sound quality and noise reduction, with and excellent standby time and up to 12 hours talk time. The Movon MK30 features a high definition OLED screen for caller ID and text to speech technology that reads out the name of the caller.

At the moment, fully fitted car kits are lagging behind – there are none that can be fully integrated into your car and work with two phones at the same time. As soon as this changes I’ll update the post.

What is Bluetooth?

Bluetooth is a way of wirelessly transferring data from one device to another. Bluetooth first appeared around ten years ago as a quicker and easier method of data transfer than infra-red. With infra-red you had to point two devices together in order for it to work (the same way as you have to point your television remote at your TV.) There were a number of problems with this kind of connection; it was unstable, slow and limited in its uses.

With Bluetooth, you no longer have to line up two devices, you just simply turn on Bluetooth and send to the device you want. Bluetooth technology was initially used for personal hands free kits. The lack of wires made it much more convenient especially when driving. Over the last few years as prices have fallen and phones have advanced, Bluetooths increasing range and even faster speeds has meant it could be used for far more than just hands free kits.

Bluetooth Classes
There are different Bluetooth Classes which give an indication of the range over which data can be transferred:

• Class 1 up to 100m
• Class 2 up to 10m
• Class 3 – less than 10m

In order to achieve data communication at these distances you will need both devices to be from the same class.

So what can it do?
Bluetooth is most commonly used for transferring pictures, music and ringtones between phones and connecting to Bluetooth headsets, personal hands free kits and car kits. As more and more phones become multimedia handsets, Bluetooth can also be used to stream music in stereo to wireless speakers and car kits using A2DP technology. With the introduction of Internet Telephony, Bluetooth headsets are now being used with Home PCs to enable wireless calling.

What Bluetooth Devices are available?

Listed below are some of the most popular types of Bluetooth devices available.

Bluetooth Dongles
Bluetooth dongles vary in size, range, and specification. When choosing your dongle its important to consider that not all dongles support all bluetooth functions. Bluetooth Dongles have a range of up to 10 metres or up to 100 metres. If you are looking to connect a Bluetooth headset to make and receive voice calls you will need to make sure it supports the Headset and Handsfree profiles. See the Bluetooth glossary for information on Bluetooth Profiles.

Personal Handsfree
The Conventional Bluetooth Headset. These come in a range of shapes and sizes, but what should you look out for when choosing one? Most headsets have the same features; they will answer and end calls, dial the last number you called and activate voice dialling on your phone, as well as adjust the volume of the speaker. The main differences are battery stand by times, weight and call quality.

Stereo Handsfree
A fairly new device in terms of Bluetooth headsets. With a stereo Bluetooth headset you can connect it to a compatible Bluetooth device and have your music play in stereo the same as it would through normal stereo headphones but without the wires. When a call comes in your music is paused while you take the call and resumes when the call is over. You get all the same features as a standard Bluetooth headset, but depending on the model you may get music control features too. For stereo streaming your phone will need to support the A2DP profile. To control your phones music playback your phone will need the AVRCP profile. See the Bluetooth glossary for information on Bluetooth Profiles.

Simple Car Kits
Simple Car Kits are becoming an extremely popular way of safely using your phone whilst driving. With no complicated installation needed, simple Bluetooth Simple Car Kits are battery powered and are normally clipped to your sunvisor or sit in you cars cigarette lighter socket. These give you the same control over your calls as a personal handsfree but instead of sitting on your ear, they act as a loud speaker in your car. More advanced models will have an LCD screen so you can see the name or number of who is calling you.

Multimedia Simple Car Kit
A lot more simple than the name suggests, these have exactly the same functionality as a standard Simple Car Kit, but with a built-in FM Transmitter so you can attach your MP3 player by cable or stream music via Bluetooth from your phone through to your car stereo for high quality sound. Depending on the kit you chose, you can have the callers ID or song information shown on your car stereo display. For stereo streaming your phone will need to support the A2DP profile. To control your phones music playback your phone will need the AVRCP profile. See the Bluetooth glossary for information on Bluetooth Profiles.

Professionally Installed Car Kit
Professionally installed car kits will give you the best possible experience while using your phone hands free in the car. They have a separate speaker and microphone, and with some extra adapters can be routed through your car stereo. Most Bluetooth kits have an LCD screen so you can see who is calling before you answer. Some kits will also allow you to transfer your phonebook contents to the car kit so you can make calls with out having to touch your phone at all.

Professionally Installed Multimedia Car Kits
As the name suggests, these have exactly the same functionality as a professionally installed car kit but as they are connected to your car stereo you can stream music from your phone or MP3 player for high quality sound. Multimedia Kits will normally give you full control over your music and some will have the option to connect non-Bluetooth MP3 players. For stereo streaming your phone will need to support the A2DP profile. To control your phones music playback your phone will need the AVRCP profile. See the Bluetooth glossary for information on Bluetooth Profiles.

Bluetooth GPS Receiver
Sat Nav is the latest must have device on your mobile. Bluetooth GPS receivers can add Sat Nav functionality to your phone. The features on a GPS receiver are pretty standard and the only things you would need to bear in mind are size, weight and most importantly compatibility with your phone. Not all handsets will support the required GPS software.

Bluetooth Speakers
Bluetooth speakers offer the same kind of functionality as Simple Car Kits but are designed to be used in the home. Some models have LCD displays that can display album art and keys to answer – end calls. For stereo streaming your phone will need to support the A2DP profile. To control your phones music playback your phone will need the AVRCP profile. See the Bluetooth glossary for information on Bluetooth Profiles.
Other Devices
The list of Bluetooth enabled devices is growing all the time. Other devices that now come with Bluetooth technology include cameras, camcorders, keyboards, mice and photo frames to name a few.
Bluetooth Glossary

This Bluetooth Glossary will explain more about the different profile types and help you to understand bluetooth compatibility.

Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP)
The A2DP profile describes how stereo quality audio can be streamed from a media source. A typical usage scenario can be considered as the walkman class of media player. The audio source would be the music player and the audio output is the wireless headset. A2DP defines the protocols and procedures that allow the distribution of high quality audio content in mono or stereo.

Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP)
AVRCP is designed to provide a standard interface to control TVs, Hifi equipment, etc This profile is used to allow a single remote control (or other device) to control all the A/V equipment that a user has access to. AVRCP defines how to control characteristics of streaming media. This includes pausing, stopping, starting playback and volume control as well as other types of remote control operations.

Bluetooth Profiles
Bluetooth profiles are general behaviours through which Bluetooth enabled devices communicate with other devices. Bluetooth technology defines a wide range of profiles that describe many different types of use cases. In order to use Bluetooth technology, a device must be able to interpret certain Bluetooth profiles. The profiles define the possible applications.

Dial-up Networking Profile (DUN)
DUN provides a standard to access the Internet and other dial-up services via Bluetooth wireless technology. The most common scenario is accessing the Internet from a laptop by dialling up on a mobile phone, wirelessly.

Generic Object Exchange Profile (GOEP)
GOEP is used to transfer an object from one device to another. The object may be any object such as a picture, document, business card, etc. The profile defines two roles, a server that provides the location from which an object is pulled or pushed, as well as a client that initiates the action. GOEP provides a generic blueprint for other profiles using the OBEX protocol.

Hands-Free Profile (HFP)
HFP describes how a gateway device can be used to place and receive calls for a handsfree device. A typical configuration is a car using a mobile phone as a gateway device. In the car, the stereo is used for the phone audio and a microphone is installed in the car for sending outgoing audio of the conversation. HFP is also used for a personal computer to act as a speakerphone for a mobile phone in a home or office environment.

Headset Profile (HSP)
The HSP describes how a Bluetooth enabled headset should communicate with a mobile phone or other Bluetooth enabled device such as a computer. When connected and configured, the headset can act as the remote devices audio input and output interface.

Human Interface Device Profile (HID)
The HID profile defines the protocols, procedures and features to be used by Bluetooth enabled HID, such as keyboards, pointing devices, gaming devices, and remote monitoring devices. Sony Ericsson handsets support the HID profile.

Object Exchange (OBEX) Protocol
OBEX is a transfer protocol that allows devices to exchange files, such as Images, Videos and Music Files

Pairing
The process of establishing a new relationship between two Bluetooth enabled devices. During this process a passkey is exchanged either before connection establishment was requested or during connecting phase. Some devices will need to be put into pairing mode before pairing can begin.

Passcode
When pairing devices, it is strongly recommended to use a pass code to authenticate incoming connections. Also, in certain connection situations you may desire additional assurance that you are connecting to the device or person you expect. A pass code can normally be any combination of keys (letters or numbers). Do use caution as some devices do not map characters similarly. Passkeys are valid only for the connection and may be different for other devices or users.

Personal Area Networking Profile (PAN)
PAN describes how two or more Bluetooth enabled devices can form an ad-hoc network and how the same mechanism can be used to access a remote network through a network access point. The profile roles include the network access point, group ad-hoc network and personal area network user.

SIM Access Profile (SAP)
SAP allows devices such as car phones with built in GSM transceivers to connect to a SIM card in a Bluetooth enabled phone. Therefore the car phone itself does not require a separate SIM card.

Synchronization Profile (SYNC)
The SYNC profile is used in conjunction with GOEP to enable synchronization of calendar and address information (personal information manager (PIM) items) between Bluetooth enabled devices. A common application of this profile is the exchange of data between a PDA and computer.

Pairing Mode
Most Bluetooth devices will need to be put into pairing mode before it can be linked to another device. During pairing mode the device will send out a signal that will allow it to be found by the device that is trying to link to it. By having a pairing mode it prevents unauthorised users from accessing a device.