by Bluetooth 5 – The Future Is Blue
Bluetooth has become a universal staple of modern technology, changing the way we share information and connect with devices, so much so that it’s easy to forget that it’s a continuously evolving technology. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) – which defines the standard – announced that its next release will be called Bluetooth 5 and will include significantly increased range, speed, and broadcast messaging capacity.
Bluetooth 5, projected for release in late 2016 to early 2017, will quadruple range and double speed of low energy connections while increasing the capacity of connection-less data broadcasts by 800 percent. It achieves all this alongside its industry-leading power performance.
With the major boost in broadcast messaging capacity, the data being transferred will be richer, more intelligent. This will redefine the way Bluetooth devices transmit information, moving away from the app-paired-to-device model to a connectionless IoT where there is less need to download an app or connect the app to a device.
Extending range will deliver robust and reliable Internet of Things (IoT) connections that make full-home and building and outdoor use cases a reality.
Higher speeds will send data faster and optimize responsiveness. Increasing broadcast capacity will propel the next generation of “connectionless” services like beacons and location-relevant information and navigation.
In real world terms, this means that your smartwatch will receive notifications faster and your Bluetooth speaker won’t stutter when you leave the room.
“Bluetooth 5 will transform the way people experience the IoT by making it something that happens simply and seamlessly around them,”
Mark Powell executive director of the Bluetooth SIG continues…
“Increasing operation range will enable connections to IoT devices that extend far beyond the walls of a typical home, while increasing speed supports faster data transfers and software updates for devices.
With the ability to broadcast a much richer set of information, Bluetooth 5 will make beacons, location awareness, and other connectionless services an even more relevant part of an effortless and seamless IoT experience”
Bluetooth devices which broadcast information, such as beacons, are becoming more common. With version 5, a Bluetooth beacon would be able to ping your phone with a URL which provides you with more information on a store and pinpoints your location indoors and sends you a discount voucher all in one go.
With such powerful upgrades to an already ubiquitous technology, Bluetooth SIG is opening the doors for others to dream up yet unseen connected devices and applications.
