Bluetooth wireless
technology has quickly become the standard for wireless
functionality. Many electronic devices now include Bluetooth as a
standard feature.
Everything from
mobile phones to computers, and from PDAs to computer printers, is
equipped with Bluetooth wireless technology. Bluetooth cameras are
now available as well. Bluetooth cameras are sure to become popular
with consumers as
they quickly realize the benefits that Bluetooth brings to
cameras.
A Bluetooth camera is simply a standard digital camera with one
important difference. A Bluetooth camera includes Bluetooth
wireless technology. Bluetooth cameras are one of the newest
applications of Bluetooth wireless technology. Bluetooth,
originally developed in 1994 and publicly announced in 1998, has
quickly become the electronics and computing industry standard for
wireless device connectivity.
Several
manufacturers have incorporated WiFi into their digital cameras but
have been met with limited public acceptance. The simplicity and
universal nature of Bluetooth wireless technology suggests that
Bluetooth cameras will become standard in the near future. The
Kodak V610, released in 2006, was the first digital camera (other
than camera phones) to integrate Bluetooth wireless technology.
Bluetooth camera phones were the first digital cameras to be paired
with Bluetooth wireless technology. Bluetooth-equipped camera phone
users can wirelessly send their pictures to a Bluetooth-equipped
PDA, computer or printer. Camera phone users have already become
quite accustomed to wirelessly sending pictures - whether by
Internet upload, e-mail, multimedia message, or Bluetooth. In fact,
camera phone users would never even consider plugging a cable into
their phone to transfer their pictures.
There are many distinct benefits to buying a digital camera with
Bluetooth wireless technology included. A Bluetooth camera
eliminates many of the hassles and aggravation factors involved
with a traditional digital camera. Digital camera users are
accustomed to needing to connect their camera to a computer with a
cable or needing to remove a memory card to upload pictures to a
computer.
Bluetooth-equipped
digital cameras allow for the direct and easy wireless transfer of
photographs to a computer, mobile phone, PDA, or wireless printer.
Bluetooth cameras can also send photographs directly from the
camera to a Bluetooth-equipped digital photo viewer.
Bluetooth cameras work exactly like any other digital camera. The
only difference between a Bluetooth camera and a standard digital
camera is that Bluetooth cameras allow the easy wireless transfer
of pictures from the camera to another device. The photography is
the same as on non-wireless digital cameras.
Expect to pay a premium for a Bluetooth camera. As with anything
new, cameras equipped with Bluetooth wireless technology do cost
more than comparable digital cameras that do not include the
Bluetooth wireless option. Early Bluetooth cameras are also
high-end cameras. The Kodak V610 retails for around $500 though
prices are lower at certain Internet stores.
Bluetooth cameras will probably become the industry standard in a
very short time. The universal acceptance of Bluetooth coupled with
the ease of use will prompt many consumers to demand Bluetooth
technology in their next digital camera purchase.
Bluetooth does add
some cost to the camera now because the option is new. The feature
will soon become standard and most, if not all, digital cameras
will include wireless functionality.