From Bluetooth to RedFang

Going wireless has so far meant trading in desk phones for cell phones and desktops for laptops. It hasn't meant going completely wireless any more than the paperless office has completely eliminated paper; after all, a cell phone connects to a headset with a wire, and unless you've got an elaborate wireless print server configured in your home office, you probably connect your laptop to a printer with a cable. But the promise of going completely wireless is now closer than ever. The reason: an increasing number of devices can use a short-range wireless protocol called Bluetooth.

Creative business applications for this emerging technology that go far beyond cell phones and home networks are hitting the market regularly. Companies are rolling out Bluetooth-enabled medical devices (such as a wrist-worn sensor that transmits pulse data to a monitor), consumer appliances (including microwave ovens, refrigerators, and washers and dryers), and office goods (for example, a whiteboard that transmits notes as they're written). Properly implemented, tools like these could be timesavers or even lifesavers. However, the growing number of Bluetooth devices also means that there's a lot of personal and financial information going through the air. Any business considering such applications must first understand what the technology is, how it works, and the nature of the risks and rewards.