When it comes to features, I think if something can do it then it’s up to me to find a way to use it. Not every feature, mind you. There are a few things, even some of the most desired features that I just don’t have any use for. I’ve used video chat a few times, but it’s not something I go out of my way to use – even if I have a device with a front-facing camera. There are others, but that’s one that I can think of I don’t use daily, even though I have the capabilities. And then there’s Bluetooth. Despite the amount of time I’ve spent in the mobile industry, I can count how many times I’ve used a Bluetooth headset on one hand. And the majority of that happened a few years ago.
I was having a conversation with a few acquaintances of mine a couple of days ago, and then one of them got up to use the phone. They put their Bluetooth headset in their ear, hit a button and they were off and running with their conversation. (As long as they can succesfully pair that headset to their phone.) Their phone was secured in their hand, all thanks to that little headset in their ear. But, of course, people started staring at him as he talked away seemingly to no one. Even those who figured out he was on a headset, and on a phone call continued to stare, like he was making a scene.
While I watched people look at him, I started wondering why on Earth something like this wasn’t a normal occurrence for these people. Obviously they had cell phones, or at least have used one, so they know that you can talk on the phone without being home. And furthermore, Bluetooth is a common feature that you can find in pretty much every single phone out there at this point, and Bluetooth headsets are relatively cheap, so it’s not like only the rich elite can have them. So while I watched, all I could wonder is why these people were so confused, or disturbed, by my friend’s actions.
This got me wondering if anyone actually uses Bluetooth anymore. And while this may seem like an obvious answer, considering my friend was using the service right in front of me, it’s the reaction from the crowd that has me wondering. I still see people with those headsets in their ear, but I still stare at them when I see them, too, because it’s not something that’s become so common that everyone has them in, ready to go.
In Bluetooth’s defense, there’s obviously more uses for the service than just making and receiving phone calls. And there’s other ways to utilize it rather than just a headset, connected to your phone. There are automobiles out there which feature Bluetooth services as well. And, we all know that you can stream music from your handset to your Bluetooth headset, if you so choose. And some people may even transfer files with the service. So despite these usages, and more, I can’t help but be surprised that I’m actually wondering if Bluetooth is something that the general public still uses.
So that’s where you come in. Let me know in the comments below if you still use Bluetooth, and if you do how you use it. Stream music? Transfer files? Or just love having a conversation without having to hold a phone up to your head? And if Bluetooth is something you don’t use, why don’t you?