How does Bluetooth relate to IEEE 802.11?
IEEE 802.11 is a wireless LAN standard that is becoming more common. Like the Bluetooth technology, IEEE 802.11 uses the 2.4GHz spectrum. Unlike the Bluetooth technology, IEEE 802.11 is designed for wireless local area networking. One form of IEEE 802.11 uses direct sequence spread spectrum, a different technique than the frequency-hopping spread spectrum used by Bluetooth communication. IEEE 802.11 offers higher data rates but typically consumes more power than does Bluetooth wireless technology. Essentially, within the rules and conventions governing operation in the 2.4GHz spectrum, IEEE 802.11 and Bluetooth technology each are optimized for different design points. IEEE 802.11 is primarily for data networking in the same fashion as is done with wired LANs today; Bluetooth wireless communication is optimized for personal area voice and data communications, especially with mobile devices. Although not the same as IEEE 802.11, it is interesting to note that a related emerging standard
