The Bluetooth symbol is a reference to a Danish king

One of the best-known technologies in recent years is Bluetooth. Unbeknownst to many, the revolutionary tech owes its name and logo to a Viking.

Bluetooth technology was developed in the 1990s by Swedish engineer Sven Mattisson and Jim Kardach, an American employed by Intel. In 1998, at the dawn of the “wireless” era, the two men were part of an international consortium that created a universal standard for the technology.

However, the duo had a tough time coming up with a name for their wireless products. Following a night of drinking, both men, interested in history, started talking about Vikings. Eventually, Mattisson mentioned the king of Denmark, Harald “Bluetooth” Gormsson.

He is known for having unified Scandinavian rivals, ultimately leading to the unification of Norway and Denmark in 1814. For the engineers, the reference to the king goes beyond the name: the Bluetooth logo is also a superimposition of the runes for the letters “H” and “B”, the king’s initials.

The first device equipped with Bluetooth was released in 1999, and its name, which was initially meant to be temporary, became permanent.

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