It's typically just a technology that helps us connect our headphones to our smartphones or Alexa to our smart bulbs. However, the story of Bluetooth is actually quite fascinating. Bluetooth is a universal way for different types of devices to communicate with each other at short range. Think of it like a language; each device has its own language that it uses to operate. However, other devices don't speak that language, so they need a universal language to communicate with each other.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Bluetooth started back in 1998 as a collaboration between multiple major technology companies:  Nokia, Intel, Ericsson, Toshiba, and IBM. All 5 companies were all building similar technologies, but on their own. At some point, they must have realized how silly that was - they were all creating their own unique languages to connect their own devices. However, that means their devices wouldn't be able to communicate with devices made by anyone else. Once they banded together, the first Bluetooth-enabled device launched just one year later in 1999. The first mobile phone with Bluetooth followed shortly thereafter, in 2001.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 The collaboration was a smashing success, and the new "language" became the world's standard for cross-device communication. It remains under oversight of The Bluetooth Special Interest Group, a not-for-profit organization. It's truly a fascinating story and something you just might remember when you are trying to get your phone to sync up with your car stereo for the 100th time!