Bluetooth: Why Is It Called That?

Bluetooth is one of the few technologies that has become so ingrained in our daily lives. Including televisions and speakers in addition to smartphones and computers, this wireless technology has undergone significant development since the days of hands-free handsets. However, what is the significance of that peculiar moniker, and does it have anything to do with teeth?

History of Bluetooth

Nils Rydbeck, the CTO of Ericsson Mobile, initiated research and development on “short link” radio technology in 1989, which would later evolve into Bluetooth. The initial intent was to cater exclusively to wireless devices.

Decades would pass while an effort was made to develop a workable solution. With the formation of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) in 1998, the situation became extremely acrimonious. Initially comprised of Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Nokia, and Toshiba, the membership increased to approximately 4,000 within a single year.

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It was not long before Bluetooth-enabled devices began to appear on the market. Reflecting on its inception, Bluetooth 1.0 was introduced in 1999. Following its intended function, the initial Bluetooth device was a wireless earpiece. The inaugural Bluetooth phone was the Ericsson T36, which debuted in 2001; the Ericsson T39 was the subsequent Bluetooth phone to reach the market in 2001.

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group now has more than 30,000 members, and Bluetooth is present in a vast array of devices beyond wireless handsets and mobile phones. Bluetooth 1.0 was introduced more than two decades ago; however, Bluetooth 5.4 was just published in February 2023.

Origin of the Bluetooth Name

The unique origins of the moniker Bluetooth are worth noting. A term that has become so common that it has lost all significance, the combination of “blue” and “tooth” in the context of wireless technology seems illogical. Indeed, that is unrelated to the matter at hand.

Jim Kardach of Intel coined the name “Bluetooth” in 1997. The eponymous designation “Bluetooth” belonged to Danish and Norwegian King Harald Gormsson during the 10th century. Imagine that—historians have hypothesized that the moniker originated from a discolored tooth! However, how does one acquire the moniker of a wireless standard?

Kardach explained that he selected the name Bluetooth because the monarch was “famous for uniting Scandinavia in the same way that we intended to unite the mobile and personal computer industries through a short-range wireless link.” It was initially intended to be the codename, but nearly three decades later, we are still referring to it as “Bluetooth.”

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What the Bluetooth Logo Means:

There is also an unexpected history associated with the logo. It may appear to be nothing more than a stylish, sleek letter “B,” but the form is quite deliberate. Do you recall King Bluetooth? In addition to supplying the name, he is also responsible for the logo.

Harald Bluetooth’s “B” icon is composed of the Nordic runes that represent the letters H and B.

Who would have thought that everyone was uttering the name of an ancient monarch and donning his initials unofficially? Bluetooth is consistently utilized, making it one of the most influential innovations of our time. Now, each time you do so, you will be reminded of a Scandinavian man with bad dentition.