The Bluetooth SIG has unveiled the specifications for the next generation of Bluetooth products. Bluetooth Core Specification Version 4.0 focuses on devices to be used in the healthcare, fitness, home entertainment, sensor and smart energy markets.
Bluetooth 3.0 was unveiled in April and wide adoption is only expected to begin next year. But whereas Bluetooth 3.0 focused on faster performance, Bluetooth 4.0 stresses low energy use:
- Ultra-low peak, average and idle mode power consumption
- Ability to run for years on standard coin-cell batteries
- Low cost
- Multi-vendor interoperability
- Enhanced range
Bluetooth 4.0 devices will be of two types: dual-mode or single-mode. Dual-mode chips will see the integration of low energy functionality into traditional Bluetooth controllers (like today’s Bluetooth 2.1+EDR or Bluetooth 3.0 + HS). The more compact single-mode chips will focus exclusively on low energy functions.
Bluetooth low energy technology will support transfer speeds up to 1 Mbps, ranges up to 100 meters, full AES-128 encryption, and more.
It remains to be seen just how quickly we will see Bluetooth 4.0 devices hit the market.