Low Energy Bluetooth – Wave of the Mobile Connectivity Future
While cruising around last month’s CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment 2008 show I noticed a few fun, products and technologies. However, one in particular really interested me – a new low energy Bluetooth technology.
The Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group) had a series of videos on display at CTIA featuring low energy Bluetooth technology and its impact on the lifestyle, healthcare and sports and fitness markets. While the videos were a little theatrical, the overall message was clear - low energy Bluetooth technology is the wave of the future in mobile devices and consumer electronic connectivity.
In previous years many companies have been hesitant to utilize Bluetooth in product designs based on size and battery life limitations. Fortunately for those companies, Bluetooth SIG companies have made great strides in improving Bluetooth technology so that size and battery life are no longer a hurdle in product development. The new low energy Bluetooth technology allows for low power consumption, which in turn extends battery life, all while in a smaller package than previously available Bluetooth technologies. The Bluetooth SIG says this will provide new market opportunities to companies producing Bluetooth enabled devices enabling more products to be developed for applications in sports, wellness and entertainment.
Bluetooth is the most widely used technology for connecting electronic devices with more than half of all cell phones sold today being Bluetooth compatible. By opening up the market and allowing Bluetooth energy to be applied to products not previously thought possible with today’s standard, the Bluetooth SIG is making great strides in developing the mobile phone into the “computing hub of the future.” As we all know, mobile phones are being used more frequently for a wide variety of applications including entertainment, data storage and connectivity.
Curious about the Bluetooth SIG? The privately held, not-for-profit trade association began in fall of 1998. The following year, the Bluetooth 1.0 specification was released. Member companies of the Bluetooth SIG are leaders in their spaces and are dedicated to the development of innovative new Bluetooth wireless technologies. The Bluetooth SIG now includes Ericsson, Intel, Lenovo, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia, and Toshiba, and thousands of other companies.
The low energy Bluetooth technology standard is expected to be released in early 2009 with the first products featuring the technology to be available late next year.
This emerging technology is one to watch in coming months and has the potential to expand the ever-growing mobility market. The new technology will allow for low power devices to connect to mobile phones opening the door for new applications to be used and also make it possible for more devices to be able to be connected. More mobile phones will be able to support location based services for example and will also be able to be connected to devices like watches and sensors.
Low energy Bluetooth technology will fill the demand for embedded wireless technology that is long lasting and power independent.
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