Bluetooth is one of those technologies we take for granted, due to its ubiquity across nearly all technological devices people use these days. As a result, we often forget that Bluetooth is an ever evolving wireless standard, though it hasn’t seen a substantial change to the current version (Bluetooth 4.0) since it’s debut back in 2010. But it seems that SIG (Bluetooth Special Interests Group) is ready to usher in the next generation of Bluetooth standards: Bluetooth 5.0.
The new version of Bluetooth will be available from late 2016 to early 2017 and will quadruple the range and double speed of low energy connections while increasing the capacity of connectionless data broadcasts by 800 percent. With the major boost in broadcast messaging capacity, the data being transferred will be richer and 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.
“Bluetooth 5 will transform the way people experience the IoT by making it something that happens simply and seamlessly around them. 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. And now 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”
– Mark Powell, executive director of the Bluetooth SIG
More than 371 million Bluetooth-enabled beacons are projected to ship by 2020, according to Patrick Connolly, the Principal Analyst at ABI Research. With eight times the broadcast messaging capacity, Bluetooth 5 will further propel the adoption and deployment of beacons and location-based services in the home automation, enterprise, and industrial markets. In scenarios where contextual awareness like navigation and pinpoint location are crucial – such as hassle-free airport navigation experiences, asset tracking of warehouse inventory, emergency response, even smart city infrastructure that helps the visually impaired be more mobile – Bluetooth 5 will send custom information people actually find useful in that moment without connection and application barriers.
“Today, there are 8.2 billion Bluetooth products in use, and the enhancements in Bluetooth 5 and planned future Bluetooth technical advancements mean that Bluetooth will be in more than one-third of all installed IoT devices by 2020. The drive and innovation of Bluetooth will ensure our technology continues to be the IoT solution of choice for all developers. ”
Source: Bluetooth
