A smart BLUETOOTH interface gateway device that allows a BLUETOOTH headset to establish an audio connection and communicate with a conventional wireless phone (e.g., a wireless phone that does not have BLUETOOTH installed). In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the connection is controlled merely by monitoring the presence of sound and tones in the audio stream from an analog audio jack of a conventional wireless phone. The smart BLUETOOTH interface gateway device preferably attaches to the wireless phone just as a wired headset would. Use of the wireless phone is the same as if a wired headset were plugged in.