Is it possible to print wirelessly over a Bluetooth connection?
A: Bluetooth, the wireless technology named after a 10th-century Viking king who united Denmark and Norway, can indeed be used for printing -if you have the right equipment on both sides of the connection.
Although it was sometimes confused with Wi-Fi wireless networking when first introduced, Bluetooth is intended to replace the cables used for short-range connections, like those from a computer to a printer or from a personal organizer to a laptop.
To print over Bluetooth, you’ll need both a computer and a printer with Bluetooth cards installed so that the devices can communicate with each other.
Many new laptop computers come with built-in Bluetooth, but you also can buy an external Bluetooth adapter. Several hardware companies make simple Bluetooth adapters, starting around $50, that plug into the computer’s USB port, and you also can find Bluetooth cards that fit into a laptop’s card slot.
Many Palm and Pocket PC hand-held organizers now come with built-in Bluetooth as well, and expansion cards are available to add Bluetooth to older models.
If your printer is not Bluetooth-ready out of its box, you will need to get a compatible adapter for it as well. If you have a particular brand of printer, you might check with the manufacturer to see if it makes its own Bluetooth adapter; companies like Epson and Canon make them for some of their printer models.
Several third-party Bluetooth adapters from companies like Iogear and Belkin also can convert your USB or parallel printer into a wireless wonder. Prices for printer adapters typically start around $80.
