A Bluetooth PC Card enables wireless communication between a laptop and other Bluetooth devices, allowing for printing, faxing, file transfer, and syncing with PDAs and mobile phones. The PCMCIA slot houses the card, which creates a Personal Area Network for up to seven devices. Bluetooth is built into many new devices, but adapters may be needed for older machines. The PCMCIA slot has evolved over time, and users should choose a card that fits their laptop’s slot. Bluetooth networks provide easy communication between devices without networking knowledge.
A Bluetooth® PCMCIA card (or PC Card) is a product that allows a laptop computer to communicate wirelessly with other Bluetooth® enabled devices. Bluetooth is a technology used to network personal devices over short distances of up to 30 feet (~10 meters). Using a Bluetooth® card allows you to print or fax, for example, without physically connecting your laptop to the printer or fax machine. A Bluetooth® card can also be used to wirelessly transfer files to a desktop computer or communicate with a cell phone or personal digital assistant (PDA).
PCMCIA stands for Personal Computer Memory Card International Association, named after the group that created the standard for this credit card-sized slot that houses products made to enhance a laptop’s capabilities. The PCMCIA slot serves the same purpose as the motherboard ports on a desktop, giving laptops options for incorporating additional hardware features.
If a laptop doesn’t have built-in Bluetooth®, a Bluetooth® PC Card is the answer. The card will create a Personal Area Network (PAN) for up to seven Bluetooth® devices to “jump” to, enabling interoperability between all products on the network.
There are many advantages to using Bluetooth®. In addition to printing and faxing without being tethered to the printer or fax machine, you can quickly exchange files or programs between two or more computers. If you have a PDA, you can sync data or update files. You can also communicate with your mobile phone. The only requirement is that the other devices are also Bluetooth® enabled.
Bluetooth® is commonly built into new handheld electronic devices, but check your devices to see which ones support Bluetooth®. For office machines such as printers, faxes and scanners, you may need to purchase a Bluetooth® dongle for the machine’s Universal Serial Bus (USB) port. If your device does not have a USB port, there are also Bluetooth® adapters available for use in serial or parallel ports, although these adapters are more expensive because fewer are manufactured.
The PCMCIA slot has evolved over time from a Type I slot, to Type II and Type III, as have PC Cards. Make sure you choose a type of Bluetooth® PC Card that fits into your laptop slot. If you have the latest standard, it can accommodate any type of PC Card.
Bluetooth® personal networks provide an instant, effortless means of communication between electronic devices in your home or office without having to spend time learning the ins and outs of networking. Just install the Bluetooth® PC Card and allow it to find other devices within range. You’ll soon wonder how you ever managed without it.
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