Bluetooth 5 launched; brings higher speeds better range and a focus on IoT

Following its announcement back in June, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (Bluetooth SIG) has today revealed that the specification of the much-improved Bluetooth 5 technology has been finalised and is now available for manufacturers and developers to use in future devices.

The latest version of the ubiquitous wireless technology is said to offer twice the speed, four times the range and eight times the broadcast message capacity compared to Bluetooth 4.2. All of those advancements are firmly targeted at Bluetooth's increasing importance as a standard for smart appliances and the Internet of Things. The update also includes some fixes designed to limit its interference with other wireless technologies.

"Bluetooth is revolutionizing how people experience the IoT. Bluetooth 5 continues to drive this revolution by delivering reliable IoT connections and mobilizing the adoption of beacons, which in turn will decrease connection barriers and enable a seamless IoT experience," says Mark Powell, SIG's executive director.

"This means whole-home and building coverage, as well as new use cases for outdoor, industrial, and commercial applications will be a reality. With the launch of Bluetooth 5, we continue to evolve to meet the needs of IoT developers and consumers while staying true to what Bluetooth is at its core: the global wireless standard for simple, secure, connectivity."

Audio looks to be less of a focus this time, which is a bit surprising, given that smartphone manufacturers are rapidly pushing wireless headphone adoption by accelerating the end of the standard headphone jack on devices like the iPhone 7. This spec, however, is all about the internet of things. According to the official release, "Bluetooth continues to embrace technological advancements and push the unlimited potential of the IoT."

The SIG expects the first range of products equipped with Bluetooth 5 to hit the shelves early next year.


Source: Bluetooth

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