Which Bluetooth Devices Work With an iPod Touch?
By John Granby
The iPod Touch offers you all the same features of an iPhone but doesn't actually make cellular phone calls. The Touch can download the same apps and do many of the same things as an iPhone but requires Wi-Fi or Bluetooth for any wireless connectivity. IPod Touch devices can also connect to the same types of Bluetooth devices as iPhones and iPads, such as mono and stereo headsets, keyboards and other iOS devices using downloadable apps. There are some minor differences in the types of Bluetooth devices your iPod Touch can connect with depending on if you have a fourth generation device or an older device.
Audio Devices With Older iPods
The second- and third-generation iPod Touch devices can use any Bluetooth stereo headset. In the world of Bluetooth, this is called Advanced Audio Distribution Profile, which is just a long way to tell you the device can send stereo audio to your headset. A2DP is also supported by the Bluetooth wireless stereo speakers that are widely available, which also work with iPod Touch devices. Look at the product package and make sure the product supports A2DP; it will be marked on the box somewhere. Not all headsets work with second- and third-generation Touches because these older iPods don't support mono audio. Mono audio is used for phone calls and some of the Bluetooth headsets in stores won't work with the older iPod Touches.
Audio Devices With New iPods
Fourth-generation iPod Touches will work with both mono audio and stereo audio (A2DP) Bluetooth headsets. The mono audio headsets are the ones that you use for phone calls. Even though the iPod Touch isn't a phone, it can be used for Voice over Internet Protocol phone calls with services like Skype. Also, FaceTime can be used with these headsets. Stereo headsets and wireless speakers all work well with fourth-generation Touches.
Keyboards for iPod Touch
All iPod Touches will actually work with a Bluetooth keyboard as well. This may be surprising, but it's a handy feature if you're using your iPod Touch for taking notes in class, in a meeting or sending a lot of emails. The iPod Touches don't support Bluetooth mice, which includes Apple Bluetooth Magic Trackpad.
Bluetooth Apps
In the Apple App Store you can download several Bluetooth apps that enable you to connect your iPod Touch to another iOS device such as an iPhone, iPad or another iPod Touch and exchange videos, pictures or other files. The only requirement for these types of apps is that both your device and your friend's device must be using the same app to exchange the files. There are also some games available that use your iPod Touch Bluetooth so you can play your friends in head-to-head games.
References
Writer Bio
John Granby began his writing career in 2000 as a founding member of a tech industry website targeted at WAP developers. He has provided in-depth coverage of the wireless industry, served as a speaker at several conferences and authored a book on Bluetooth. Granby earned a Bachelor of Science in computer engineering from Purdue University.