IrDA
Infrared Data Association
1. A standard for transmitting data, originally designed for use with infrared (non-visible) light technology.
See: Infrared
IrDA, together with infrared, was used to wirelessly connect the phone to various devices, to exchange information such as phone book entries with other phones. Finally, some phones can also use it to send information such as phone book entries and calendar events to Infrared-equipped printers.
IrDA over infrared was essentially replaced by Bluetooth, which has a longer range and does not require line-of-sight since it uses radio waves instead of light.
Infrared was once common in laptop computers, but is almost unheard of now. Computers without infrared required a USB infrared adapter to communicate with a phone via infrared.
2. The industry group that created the IrDA technical standard.
Last updated Mar 15, 2013 by Rich Brome
Editor in Chief Rich became fascinated with cell phones in 1999, creating mobile web sites for phones with tiny black-and-white displays and obsessing over new phone models. Realizing a need for better info about phones, he started Phone Scoop in 2001, and has been helming the site ever since. Rich has spent two decades researching and covering every detail of the phone industry, traveling the world to tour factories, interview CEOs, and get every last spec and photo Phone Scoop readers have come to expect. As an industry veteran, Rich is a respected voice on phone technology of the past, present, and future.
