Bluetooth

Bluetooth was created in 1996, and from research at giant Swedish Telecoms supplier Ericsson.

The Bluetooth name came from the Norse King Harald "Bluetooth" Gormsson who ruled Denmark and Norway about a thousand years ago. Bluetooth is now managed by a 14,000 company strong Special Interest Group of interested companies who oversee development.

Apple is leveraging the Bluetooth LE technology that it has been building into every iPhone since the iPhone 4S to enable automatic setup of an Apple TV 3G. Just touch a device running iOS 7 to a newer Apple set-top box to have it automatically set up Wi-Fi networks, region settings and Apple Store accounts.

A Bluetooth LE device that broadcasts a data payload to any compatible BT device in the area. This can enable complex interaction without having to be on the same Wi-Fi network or even paired with a target device. But it also may use the iPod Accessory Protocol, also supported by BLE.