Bluetooth isn't meant to be a replacement for other wireless networking technology. But it can work in a lot of the same situations. If you're just trying to set up a simple wireless network at home or for your own cubicle or office, Bluetooth may provide the solution you need at a fraction of the cost.

The key to a Bluetooth network is the "Access Point." Most Bluetooth devices only have a range of 10 meters (33 feet), but a Bluetooth Access Point is more powerful. It has a range of up to 100 meters (330 feet), so it can cover a home or small office. Up to seven Bluetooth devices can hook into this access point and use it to surf the web or talk to each other.

One major advantage to a Bluetooth network is that it's easy to set up and use. Once you've got the Access Point set up, all you need to do is pair your Bluetooth devices with it. Ever afterwards, those devices will automatically search out and find the Access Point whenever they are in range. You don't have to do anything to get connected except turn the device on.

This ease of connectivity gives you a network that can be put together on the fly and moved about at your whim. In fact, you don't really need the Access Point at all. You can simply pair your Bluetooth devices with, say, a laptop computer and have a miniature, totally portable network.

And just because you move part of the network, doesn't mean the whole thing has to come with you. You can set up a Bluetooth network with a Bluetooth printer that stays behind on your desk. When your laptop is at home, it's automatically connected to the printer. When your laptop is away, it doesn't "see" the printer anymore, but it's still connected to your mobile phone and maybe a pair of Bluetooth speakers or whatever else you brought on the road. You don't have to consciously think about reconnecting them each time you get them out. Just turn them on and they're talking to each other.

The connection with a mobile phone gives you another level of connectivity for networking on the fly. Your laptop doesn't need a wireless modem to dial out to the net. If you've paired the laptop with the mobile phone, you can select the phone as your dial-up networking device. Your mobile phone has just become a modem on the fly. Or if your phone has a connection to the web, you can pull up that data stream onto the screen of your laptop and surf from there.

As Bluetooth technology becomes more and more integrated into new electronic devices, the possibilities of a Bluetooth network will expand. You'll be able to set up an impromptu network with a friend's laptop without needing a router. You'll be able to take pictures with your mobile phone and transfer them to a relative's desktop PC without ever needing a wired connection and with a minimum of fuss.