Using Bluetooth to sync your Pocket PC is easier than ever under WM6.1.  All you need to do is prepare your computer, create the Bluetooth partnership and sync.

Prepare your Computer

I covered this step in detail in my earlier article entitled "Use Bluetooth to sync your Pocket PC."  This step is exactly the same under WM6.1, so I won't go through it again here.  If you are using a Bluetooth USB dongle with your computer, go review that article to see how to prepare your computer (I am using a Kensington USB dongle there).

Make sure your computer's Bluetooth configuration has been set to let other Bluetooth devices discover the computer:

Create the Bluetooth partnership

The Bluetooth connection wizard is greatly simplified under WM6.1.  You don't have near the options or required steps for connecting devices (I don't know if this is a good or bad thing just yet). 

Here's the easiest way to create your Bluetooth Activesync partnership:

On the mobile device

• Turn on the bluetooth radio
• Open up ActiveSync (tap Start > Programs > ActiveSync icon)
• Tap Menu > Connect via Bluetooth.  The first time you attempt to connect via Bluetooth, you won't have a bluetooth partnership between the mobile device and your computer for syncing purposes, so you'll see a message on the mobile device's screen:

"Cannot find an existing Bluetooth partnership with a PC that supports ActiveSync.  Would you like to set up a partnership now?" 

• Select the Yes button.  You will be taken to the Bluetooth Settings Mode screen

• Tap the Devices tab, then tap the "Add new device" option.  The mobile device will search for Bluetooth devices and once it locates your computer, you'll see the name of your computer in the screen.  Tap this name and the Next option on the bottom right hand side of the screen.

• You'll be prompted to input a Passcode.  The Passcode will be shared between the mobile device and your computer and can be any combination of alpha-numeric characters you choose to use.  For my purposes, I enter 1234 in the space and tap Next.

On the computer

You will receive a "Bluetooth Security Code Required" message on your computer, similar to this one:

Select the message and then enter the same Passcode you entered for your mobile device in the space provided and select OK. 

You will receive a message that the Bluetooth connection was successful.

Back to the mobile device

On the mobile device, tap OK to exit the Bluetooth Settings screen and return to the ActiveSync screen.  Tap Menu >  Connect via Bluetooth and syncing will begin.

Final Notes

I used an IPAQ 910c to put together this methodology.

I tested this out using both a Bluetooth USB dongle with my laptop and the bluetooth radio on my UMPC.  The process was exactly the same, so once you've set the computer up properly, it should not matter if you are using a Bluetooth dongle or the computer's installed Bluetooth radio.

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