14 DAY TRIAL // The technology in the smartphone industry is getting better and better each year, but every once in a while we get some really meaningful advancements in an area. Like Bluetooth, for example, which has just been upgraded to version 5.0.
Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has just announced the availability of the fifth iteration of its technology. Although Bluetooth 5.0 is available starting today, the first devices carrying this technology won't be out on the market until mid-2017.
According to SIG, the new Bluetooth 5.0 technology has major improvements over the previous iterations such as longer range, faster speed, as well as larger broadcast message capacity. Also, enhanced interoperability and coexistance with other wireless technologies have been implemented, too.
“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,” explains Mark Powell, Executive Director of the Bluetooth SIG.
Bluetooth 5.0 updates include four times range, two times speed, and eight times broadcast message capacity over the previous version of the technology.
Thanks to the increased broadcast message capacity, the data sent for improved and more context-relevant solutions is increased. With higher speeds, users will have more responsive, high-performance devices. Also, longer range should cover entire homes and buildings, while maintaining solid and reliable connections.
Moreover, Bluetooth 5.0 comes with many enhancements that should help reduce potential interference with other wireless technologies, which should provide Bluetooth devices with more stable connections.
Even though Bluetooth 5.0 has received lots of upgrades, the technology retains its low-energy functionality and flexibility for devs.
Although the new technology is mostly aimed at Internet of Things (IoT), we can't help but wonder how long it will take handset makers to adopt the new technology.