Billionton Bluetooth USB Adapter Review

The Billionton Bluetooth USB Adapter sells for $38.50 at Fancylogic.com.

Find more Bluetooth USB Adapters at Amazon.com.

Introduction
In London a new fad has hit the trains from suburbia: “Toothing” is hooking up with your fellow commuters via Bluetooth. I am not in London and today’s review will deal with a more modest, if perhaps more practical goal: hooking up my cell phone with my laptop with the help of the Bluetooth USB Adapter BT02-B from Billionton.

The description on the packaging promises myriads of new functionalities to my phone and laptop:
- Connection to the Internet
- Send and receive Email
- Browse the Web
- Synchronize with a Bluetooth enabled PDA
- Hook up to an office network
- Communication with other Bluetooth enabled devices

Usage
The installation of the Bluetooth Software on my laptop which runs on Windows XP Professional went without problem. The Set-up from the CD launched automatically and a Configuration Wizard made it easy to choose the settings. After a quick set up, my Sony Ericsson T610 cell phone and my computer found each other OK.

The next step the so called “Pairing” of the devices proved to be the first challenge. It is neither clear from the cell phone documentation nor from the Bluetooth Help File how to do this. After setting a password on my Laptop and trying to establish a connection, it failed several times until finally it worked somehow.

However, the second and bigger challenge was to have my phone and laptop actually exchange something. After I tried to send a picture and a business card either direction from my phone and laptop, I finally realized that in fact I was not set up yet. After searching online and struggling a little longer, I finally found out that I had to install the Synchronization Software that comes with my cell phone and that I had to enable the Bluetooth Serial Ports Service (tip source).

This Service “allows two Bluetooth devices to establish a wireless connection through virtual communications ports and then use that connection as if it were hardwired serial cable between the devices”. So I found out from the Readme file later. Unfortunately, the icon used for this connection looks exactly like a serial port plug which is why I believe I ignored the icon together with the whole analogy when it initially came up during the Configuration Wizard.
Having learned from my mistake, I re-ran the Configuration Wizard and enabled the Bluetooth Serial ports. The service or connection gets a COM port assigned which has to be enabled in the Phone Monitor Options under the Control Panel.

After that synchronization of my Outlook Calendar with my phone with the help of the XTNDConnect Software from Sony Ericsson works fine. In hindsight, the whole set up is quite plug and play once you know what to do; the difficulty rather lies in putting everything together.
Well, I guess that might also be the challenge and attraction of “Toothing” in the commuter trains; it is a long way from Islington every morning.

Bluetooth USB Adapter BT02-B from Billionton comes with an extension cord and a CD (including Drivers, Bluetooth Application Software and a Readme file which is 189 pages long!).

Conclusion
The Bluetooth USB Adapter BT02-B from Fancylogic is a low-cost way to get a Bluetooth enabled phone connected to a PC or Notebook. If you follow the tips in this review it is easy to get to work.

How to Buy
The Billionton Bluetooth USB Adapter sells for $38.50 at Fancylogic.com.
$50 cash back for Sony Ericsson T610 (TMobile) at Amazon.com,
Find more Bluetooth USB Adapters at Amazon.com.

Specification

• Bluetooth YL1 compliant
• USB 1.1 compliant
• Working distance 10 meter

About Fancylogic
FancyLogic is an online store showcased some of the most innovative products. FancyLogic strives to deliver premium quality, customer satisfaction and an innovative product line that meets the expectations of our consumers. Fancylogic offers international shipping to most countries.