Bonjour lets you create an instant network of computers and smart devices just by getting them connected to each other.

The computers and devices take over from there, automatically broadcasting and discovering what services each is offering for the use of others. The network could be as simple as two AirPort Extreme-equipped PowerBook users sitting in a hotel meeting room miles from the nearest AirPort Extreme Base Station with some large files they need to share. Before Bonjour, frustration. With Bonjour, your computer will discover others, making file sharing completely simple.

Standards Based, Open Source

Bonjour works over today’s most popular standard connection technologies, including Ethernet and AirPort (802.11). And it uses the standard, ubiquitous IP networking protocol for its connections, the same protocol that runs the internet itself. Indeed, all of the technologies driving Bonjour are open and part of the standards creation process of the IETF, as is Bonjour itself.

Simple Setup

Safari, Apple’s turbo-charged web browser, uses Bonjour to find any web addresses on your local network — for printer, router or webcam setup and administration, for instance. With the help of Bonjour, iChat AV lets you see which people are available for chatting or video conferencing on your local network, and automatically removes them when they leave. iTunes and iPhoto also use Bonjour to facilitate sharing music and photos on local networks.

No Wizardry Necessary

Since Apple introduced Bonjour technology in 2002, every major printer manufacturer has adopted the technology so you can add and remove such machines from networks without configuration. When you add your Mac to a network, Mac OS X will then automatically discover and connect to the available Bonjour-enabled printers and you’re ready to print. Also, innovative cameras may include wireless networking to download pictures, perfect for spycams. To setup these devices, simply navigate to the Bonjour bookmark in Safari.

Zero Configuration, Zero Hassles, Anywhere

Now anyone using a Windows PC can take advantage of the effortlessness of Bonjour for free. The Bonjour Setup Wizard makes setting up a printer under Windows as easy as Mac OS X (we can’t make it as beautiful, unfortunately). Bonjour for Windows includes a plug-in for Internet Explorer, so you can setup a Bonjour-enabled device without knowing its IP address. You can even print to printers connected over USB to Airport Extreme Base Station or Airport Express. If you’re an Open Source enthusiast, you will be able to download the Bonjour source code to create software for virtually any platform.