News of the Bluetooth 5 started in June 2016. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) officially unveiled the Bluetooth 5, which boasts of a faster speed and wider coverage. Manufacturers worldwide are getting ready to add the new feature to their latest products.
Faster and Wider Coverage with Bluetooth 5
Bluetooth stated that the Bluetooth 5 is the latest version of their core specification. Some of the key updates to Bluetooth 5 include two times speed, four times range and eight times broadcast message capacity. The longer range of the Bluetooth 5 allows both home and building coverage and provides more reliable connections.
The faster speed will support high-performance devices better. The higher broadcast message size boosts the data forwarded for improved solutions. Bluetooth 5 also provides updates that will lower potential interference with other wireless technologies.
This guarantees that Bluetooth products can work well together within the growing complex Internet of Things (IoT) environment. Even with all the upgrades, Bluetooth 5 maintains low-energy functionality and flexibility according to the needs of developers.
Bluetooth 5 and the Internet of Things
Bluetooth stated that the new version means whole-home and building coverage, and new use cases for industrial, commercial and outdoor applications. Bluetooth 5 continues to evolve to adequately meet the requirements of IoT developers and consumers, at the same time keeping true to its core of being the global wireless standard for simple and secure connectivity.
ABI Research expects 48 billion internet-enabled devices to be installed by 2021, with almost one-third including Bluetooth. Consumers will most likely find devices with Bluetooth 5 in the next two to six months.
The Verge cited that Bluetooth 5 will not include mesh networking, which allows Bluetooth devices to function as hubs that help users reach farther distances. Mesh networking is currently in development and expected to launch in 2017.
It is supposed to work with devices using either Bluetooth 4 or 5. With The two previous issues of short range and slow speeds are addressed by Bluetooth 5. More updates and details on Bluetooth 5 are expected soon.