Are Bluetooth headsets unique?

[jonnyjack]

I was wondering if my phone recognizes my bluetooth unit as a unique headset once it is paired. Will other people with the same model accidently connect to my phone if they're within range?

I tried searching on Google but I couldn't find anything...

 

[KentState]

Like any other network device, it has it's own unique identifier by device.

 

[pm]

Every bluetooth device has a 4 digit code that you use to "pair" with it before it will work. Once they are paired, only those two devices will work together - bluetooth isn't a network, it's an encrypted point-to-point connection.

If someone knows your pairing code, they could try to pair with the headset and I'm not sure if it would kick you off or not or if you'd need to unpair first... I've never tried to do this... it probably would ignore the new pairing request until you unpaired your headset. It definitely won't pair with their device silently and share the headset - bluetooth doesn't support multiple devices. The communication between the headset and your device is encrypted (using the pairing code and the initial handshake) so it would be hard to "snoop" on the communication as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluetooth#Pairing

 

[jonnyjack]

thanks for your replies! i wasn't sure since the passcode is a generic 4 digit code.

 

[imported_Dunnomuch]

I've used two identical Plantronics headsets with my Centro. I also purchased them at the same time from the same supplier so they could have been from the same manufacturing batch.

Even with the same (default) passcode they are uniquely identified.

 

[gorcorps]

Don't most headsets these days have both a discoverable mode and just a bluetooth on mode? I know mine does. So you pair the headset with discoverable mode, so your handset can just search and find what it needs to, then once paired all you need is 'bluetooth on' mode which prevents other phones from being able to see your headset.