Post the release of Bluetooth 4.2 a couple years ago, the widely used wireless tech is finally getting a much-needed upgrade. The Bluetooth Interest Group has today officially adopted Bluetooth 5 as the next-gen wireless platform and cleared the way for manufacturers to use the tech in their devices.
Major improvements to this new wireless technology include a longer range, faster speed, and larger broadcast message capacity. Talking about specifics, the data transfer speeds have increased two-fold whereas the range has grown four times. Also, you can use Bluetooth 5 to send eight times more data using broadcast messages. This comparison is based on the widely used and existing Bluetooth 4.2 wireless technology.
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.
This increment in basic specifications will be immensely helpful for IoT and smart home devices, required to accommodate the needs of a whole building or a home at once. It could also prove to be useful for further improvements in wearable, especially smartwatches, which are losing market due to slow connection speeds (and upgrades). Bluetooth 5 can also be used in a variety of settings – outdoor, industrial, and commercial environments.
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.
Though the wireless technology has been released, one shouldn’t expect to see Bluetooth 5-equipped devices for the next 2-6 months. The better connectivity options could debut in the coming wave of smartphones, including the Galaxy S8, the next Apple iPhone, and the hoard of other Android smartphones. The same will be the case with the IoT device ecosystem.
Bluetooth 5 Features
The new version of the Bluetooth technology has arrived with many visible improvements, giving it an edge over its predecessors —
- Four times range (Around 800 feet or 240m).
- Two times the speed (Around 50 Mbit/s).
- Low energy.
- Eight times the broadcast message size, increasing the amount of data sent.
Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group) group says that the long-range Bluetooth 5 can cover an entire home or building. They have worked to reduce the interference of Bluetooth 5 with radio signals of co-existent wireless technologies.
Bluetooth 5 Will propel the IOT Ecosystem
It is very likely that Bluetooth 5 will play a significant role in realizing the dream of smart homes and spaces with IoT (Internet of Things) devices capable of talking to each other. And before that, it could be used to boost data syncing between your smartphone and wearable gadgets like fitness bands and smartwatches.
Devices equipped with Bluetooth 5 are expected to hit the shelves in a span of around 2 to 6 months, according to the group.
