Bluetooth technology can be used for many different purposes, and even though the base remains the same, it must have a specific profile to perform a specific task; and that one profile for listening to music is not the same as transferring files, because the rules and the way to handle information are different. For this reason, there are Bluetooth profiles.
Bluetooth profiles, what are they and what are they?
In general, Bluetooth profiles are already defined on the device in question that we will use and are automatically selected, and this is the case for many devices such as headphones or speakers. However, a Bluetooth computer with a laptop that has a laptop, for example, is duplicated, and as a result, has different profiles that we can change by hand to choose one that always suits us.
Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP)
The A2DP profile is the most commonly used by audio devices, as its name suggests. Visible by definition how to transmit multimedia audio from one device to another, such as from a smartphone to the wireless headsets connected to it.
There's a difference here: imagine having a car with Bluetooth for that, without letting you listen to music from speakers on a smartphone, allowing you to sync your contacts list and make calls. In this case, in addition to using an A2DP profile, you will also need to use another data management profile at the same time. Fortunately, in a car these files are handled automatically and are selected and do not require user interaction.
Protocol Transfer Protocol (FTP)
Of course FTP protocol sounds familiar to you because it is one of the oldest and most widely used today for transferring files. You will be surprised to know that modern technology like Bluetooth has an FTP profile where we will use it to transfer files offline. On some smartphones you can see it when you connect to another app and the smartphone itself asks you which profile you want to use.
Logically, if you want to simply transfer files, you must select this profile to work properly.
Dedicated Ownership Profile (DIP)
This Bluetooth profile identifies a device outside the limits of its predefined device type to interact with. What this profile does is allow one app to "see" another, to identify it.
When you go to the Bluetooth part of the smartphone and start scanning to see the nearest devices you can connect to, this is the profile currently used.
Hands-free profile (HFP)
This is one of the most widely used profiles. As we showed earlier, if you have a car that lets you connect a smartphone via Bluetooth, in addition to the A2DP music profile, you will need to have an HFP profile to be able to receive and make calls from car audio.
It is clearly used on smartphones and smart speakers that allow phones, and obviously the Bluetooth device is required to have a speaker and microphone to work.
Human Resource Performance Profile (HID)
This is one of the most commonly used profiles by Bluetooth, and it is needed for devices with human connections such as keyboards and mouse. This is a profile that is especially pointed to it because it has the least latency, in addition to being one of the least powerful.
This profile can be found on remote devices such as keyboard, mouse, joysticks, console controls, etc.
LAN Access Profile (LAP)
Finally, this is a Bluetooth profile for almost all compatible devices. It is required to be able to access a WAN, LAN or Internet with physical connection to the network. In other words, it is the one used to model the Internet between devices.
In some cases you will be able to confirm that the device does not have this profile and instead receives one called Bluetooth PAN, the most recent version of the LAP profile you are restoring.
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