> Am in the UK. I just got a Bluetooth phone and need a Bluetooth dongle.
>
> Are all modern Bluetooth dongles effectively the same?

I've been looking recently too - I bought what I thought was a Billionton
class 1 bluetooth dongle IVT Blue Soleil software - functional if a bit
clumsy. Tried to use it with native XP software but it failed and turned
out the unit was a counterfeit supplied with pirated IVT software.

Next purchase will probably be from mobilefun (had great service with a BT
GPS last week) and will be at least one that claims to be plug-and-play so
it will go XP software anywhere - they have one around £9 that does this.

A2DP refers to using a stereo headset from the PC, stereo file transfers to
and from a PC will work using BT unit without it.

Regards,
Dave