This should be good news for Internet of Things (IoT) connected device developers who are looking to produce devices that will operate throughout a home or industrial complex.
“Bluetooth 5 will transform the way people experience the IoT by making it something that happens simply and seamlessly around them,” said Mark Powell, executive director of the Bluetooth SIG.
“Increasing operation range will enable connections to IoT devices that extend far beyond the walls of a typical home, while increasing the speed supports faster data transfers and software updates for devices,” added Powell. “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.”
So how much of an improvement will Bluetooth 5 be in comparison to Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)? According to Bluetooth SIG, the new connections will offer:
- Four times the range
- Double the speed
- Eight times the broadcasting capacity
Additionally, the data connection system will still have the low energy status of its previous incarnations. With Patrick Connolly, principal analyst at ABI Research, predicting that over 371 million Bluetooth beacons will be shipped by 2020, Bluetooth 5 looks like it will be a significant leader in the IoT connection space.
“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,” explained Powell. “The drive and innovation of Bluetooth will ensure our technology continues to be the IoT solution of choice for all developers.”
Bluetooth SIG hopes that with these improvements to the system, IoT developers will have the ability to drop their app-paired-to-device model, and instead move to a connectionless IoT. This will eliminate the need to download or connect your apps directly to a device. In fact, Bluetooth 5 will be able to send custom information like navigation and location to IoT systems based on the application of the device.
Added evidence that Bluetooth is set to be a leader in the IoT space is that the membership of Bluetooth SIG has grown by 11 percent since 2015, now encompassing more than 30,000 companies. These companies work with Bluetooth to improve the technology and implement it onto their IoT connected devices.
“Implementing Bluetooth as our wireless technology and joining the SIG organization was the obvious choice to ensure our products’ success,” said Luke Sanger, CEO and co-founder of Blossom Group. “Bluetooth has the ubiquity of a trusted wireless communication platform and a great history of supporting market trends and working with developers and members to produce groundbreaking products and applications. We know Bluetooth will stay ahead of the game by working with its members and embracing technological advancements – from power efficiency to IoT connectivity – to push the limits of innovation.”
To learn more about Bluetooth check out Bluetooth Low Energy: The Developer’s Handbook.