Why Is Bluetooth Called Bluetooth?

Technology powers the world we live in but not without leaving hundreds of questions behind. One popular topic that has puzzled consumers surrounds Bluetooth and its mysterious name. Why is it called Bluetooth?

In its simplest sense, Bluetooth is a wireless communication protocol that permits communication. Here is another way to look at it.

When two devices need to talk to each other, they need to have a handshake on various parameters before the conversation starts. The first agreement is on the medium – will they use wires, or talk over some wireless signal? Bluetooth is one such wireless signal (protocol) over which two (or more) devices communicate through.

In scientific terms, “Bluetooth is a telecommunications industry specification that describes how mobile devices, computers, and other endpoints can easily communicate with each other using a short-range wireless connection.

Why IS Bluetooth Called Bluetooth?

Strange name though isn’t it – are the Bluetooth waves invisible but blue and shaped like teeth? Wrong! There is absolutely no relation between the name and the meaning. So, where did this unusual name come from?

The Bluetooth protocol was created by Ericsson (previously named Sony Ericsson) which is a major Swedish telecommunication company. They named it after the Danish Viking king Harald “Bluetooth” Gormsson

The Bluetooth Legend Versus The Latin Chronicles

As legend goes, Blåtand had the blessed ability to bring people to negotiate with each other and come to talking terms. So skilled was he, that he was able to unite Denmark and Norway together! The literal translation of Blåtand means blue-tooth, hence the name Bluetooth for the protocol. It does precisely what Blåtand did – let two wireless devices communicate with each other!

Some stories, including a chronicle from the Middle Ages, detail King Harald “Bluetooth” Gormsson of Denmark being buried in Roskilde in Denmark in the late 10th century.

However according to National Geography, “the Bluetooth logo combines the H and B runes from the Younger Futhark runic system, used in the Viking age. The first time King Harald was given the nickname Blåtand (Bluetooth) is in the Roskilde Chronicle, a 12th-century Latin text probably written by a monk from eastern Denmark.”

Inventor Jaap Haartsen led the development of Bluetooth wireless technology. Thanks to him, Bluetooth allows a range of devices to wirelessly connect, communicate, and transfer data. Haartsen was born in The Hague, Netherlands, in 1963.

Nonetheless, many wireless technologies like Bluetooth were introduced before Wi-Fi. Bluetooth specifications 1.0 and 1.0B were released in 1999. These technologies were initially used for short-range connectivity to devices such as mobile phone headsets or car systems.

Ideally, the Bluetooth symbol has Harald Blåtand’s initials inscribed into it (in Runic). The two lines sticking out of the back of the B actually represent a Runic H – that’s H for Harald. The B for Bluetooth also stands for Blåtand.

Who Owns Bluetooth?

Currently, Bluetooth is managed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), which has over 35k members in the fields of telecommunications, computing, networking, and consumer electronics. The Bluetooth SIG is responsible for developing the specifications, managing the certification program, and protecting trademarks.

Noteworthy, more than 4.7 billion Bluetooth chips are being shipped per year as of 2021. However, manufacturers must meet SIG standards before marketing a Bluetooth device.  Even so, the company continues to advance with a Bluetooth test conducted in space in 2024

As Bluetooth continues to develop, more discoveries and new wonders emerge. Recently, LinkedIn published a report exposing data sharing vulnerabilities of the technology.

“This groundbreaking study found that Bluetooth signals give users a distinct fingerprint that can be tracked along with their movements and location. All wireless devices have minor hardware manufacturing imperfections that are unique to each wireless device.”

The good news is that you can locate your lost device using its Bluetooth fingerprint. This means that you can zoom in on your lost device as long as it is within range. Notably, Bluetooth has a maximum of 33 meters.

According to Intel, the expansion also carried security risks that have been central to their research.

As with all other kinds of wireless connectivity, security is a top-of-mind consideration for Bluetooth technologists and users. Throughout Bluetooth technology’s long life, its security capabilities have evolved right alongside improvements to performance and expanding use cases. The Bluetooth specification, overseen by the Bluetooth SIG, is periodically updated to enhance security and prevent issues.

Creating Bluetooth as a Wireless Network

In 1997, a collaboration between IBM and Ericsson quickly grew into a multi-corporation partnership. By 1998, the first prototype was released with IBM and Ericson being the founding signatories and five members: Intel, Ericsson, Toshiba, Nokia, and IBM.

A year later, the first Bluetooth devices were released to the public. According to Wikipedia, a hands-free Bluetooth mobile headset earned the “Best of Show Technology Award” at COMDEX. The first Bluetooth mobile phone was the unreleased prototype Ericsson T36, but the improved model T39 eventually reached store shelves.

In 2001, however, Ericsson released the first commercial Bluetooth phone, the R520m, making it the first Bluetooth phone on the market. At the same time, IBM introduced the IBM ThinkPad A30, which was the first notebook with Bluetooth capability.

Just How Good Is the New Technology for Networking?

With the advancement of its technology, Bluetooth is now able to connect to multiple devices. In the first operating model, the protocol allows communication of up to seven devices using a BR/EDR Bluetooth device. In this case, the apparatus serves as a master and the remaining devices act as slaves.

Another option, or non-commercial usage, allows only two devices to communicate. It is mostly used with a cellular phone and a computer.

Furthermore, when two or more devices are near each other, Bluetooth can be used to transfer information between them. The protocol can be used to transfer sound data with telephones (for example, with a Bluetooth headset) or bytes between computers.

Among the numerous Bluetooth-enabled products are telephones, speakers, tablets, media players, robotics systems, laptops, gaming consoles, headsets, modems, hearing aids, and even watches.

All in all, Bluetooth was named in honor of a Viking king whose feat of uniting Denmark and Norway, made him famous.  The technology has transformed how we transfer data and share Internet connectivity.