Submitted by Chad Shmukler on
One of the still outstanding "head scratchers" regarding the Apple iPhone is the continued lack of support for the A2DP Bluetooth profile. Considering the iPhone's roots are in the iPod, a stereo music player, it is quite astounding that as we sit here already up to iPhone firmware 1.1.1, there is still no native support for A2DP. The good news is that this doesn't mean A2DP is unavailable to iPhone users.
For those of you unfamiliar with A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile), A2DP is a Bluetooth profile that allows for the wireless transmission of stereo audio from a source (i.e. a phone or computer) to an A2DP receiver (a set of Bluetooth headphones or stereo system).
Back to the good news. Though the iPhone itself does not support A2DP directly (at this time), all iPhone owners can still
enjoy the convenience of A2DP headphones, earbuds, and other A2DP accessories. Through the use of an A2DP dongle, such as the one recently released by 8Bananas, any iPhone can send audio to an A2DP receiver.
The good thing about the 8Bananas A2DP dongle, the SRS-200BD, which is "made for the iPod or iPhone" is that it connects to the iPhone's dock connector. Simply plug and A2DP dongle into the iPhone's dock connector, and off you go. There are a handful of other A2DP dongles out there that plug into 3.5mm headphone jacks which would work with the iPhone, but don't offer the same level of compact convenience.
Comments
instig8r replied on Permalink
What about microphone? Does A2DP include microphone options? Does this device allow a way to gracefully answer the phone when using receive-only headphones?
Arsh Singh replied on Permalink
I simply culdn't believe it!
Iphone 3G is out and soon to be released in India. I have been waitin for quite a while now to officially purchase Iphone 3G.
I am totally astonished to know that Iphone does not support A2DP. This is heart breakin. I don't want to purchase another hardware (A2DP dongle) to listen to music without wires, however I might purchase another A2DP enabled phone instead.
Thanx Apple... for being so dumb not to include A2DP feature in (the so called) Iphone.
Ducalion replied on Permalink
Yes. Apple really spoiled this time. I can understand if the hardware was not built in...... but not including this piece of the software is deliberate and quite silly really. Maybe they are trying to set the market for a new Apple BT headphone set......power spoils.