History of the Bluetooth Webcam

Bluetooth Webcam

By Anne Ahira

Webcams are fun devices that are easy to install on a laptop and PC usually requiring no drivers for installation.

Once the webcam is plugged in, users can enjoy chatting with other individuals while showing off their face using their favorite instant messaging application.

Unfortunately for people with laptops that have limited USB ports, the webcam may sometimes need to be unplugged to give way for other USB peripherals like USB keyboards, mice, and the many flash drives that are becoming less expensive every month.

Many laptops and netbooks these days have a built-in webcam to solve the problem, but the webcam rests in a fixed position making aiming limited. A possible solution to this is to use a Bluetooth webcam instead.

About Bluetooth Webcams

Bluetooth webcams are actually rare and even Logitech, which is popular for many of their webcams, do not make webcams for Bluetooth usage.

It is still a good concept to use nevertheless since webcams connected this way do not rely on wireless receivers so absolutely no USB ports are used. It instead relies on the built-in Bluetooth found in most modern laptops or Bluetooth USB dongles to give Bluetooth connectivity to systems that lack it.

Warelex’s Mobiola Web Camera Software

Although Warelex isn’t a company that manufacturers webcams, this company that specializes in making mobile-based software takes a unique approach to the whole Bluetooth webcam concept by making use of the mobile phone’s secondary camera. The software responsible for making this possible is the Mobiola Web Camera software.

This application is installed on a Windows system and adds a special webcam driver. It uses Bluetooth to connect with any supporting mobile device with secondary camera (the one in the front) that runs in Symbian S60 or greater, Windows Mobile, or Blackberry.

Once the devices are paired, the webcam functionality of instant messengers can be used where anything that the secondary camera sees is displayed on the webcam window for broadcasting. Although this software isn’t free, SmartCam offers similar functionality and is free to download.

BT-1 Bluetooth Webcam

Mac users can’t take advantage of the concept until Ecamm developed the first ever Bluetooth webcam and unveiled at the Macworld Expo 2009 to earn the Best of Show award. This compact webcam is completely wireless with a 640×480 resolution that can capture H.264 video in AAC audio (48 KHz).

It also has a built-in stereo microphone for conversations and a mini-tripod accessory that can be used to easily mount on the desktop. The talk time is around 4 hours and can operate 10-30 feet away from the Bluetooth source.

Installation is easy by just setting up the software and then pairing it up like a regular Bluetooth device. Then the BT-1 Bluetooth webcam can freely be used to Mac software like Skype, iChat, and other applications that take advantage of the built-in iSight in Macbooks.

The BT-1 is still not compatible for Windows users and with no other Bluetooth webcams on the market, it is best to purchase a cellular phone that runs on Symbian OS, has Bluetooth and has a frontal camera for using as a Bluetooth webcam. Many of these phones can be found in Amazon.com.

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