December 5, 2013 – The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (Bluetooth SIG) announced today that it has adopted the updated Bluetooth core specification.

Bluetooth 4.1, announced today, represents an important evolution in the Bluetooth wireless standard. In July 2010, it was updated with Bluetooth Smart, a groundbreaking intelligent, low-power technology that enables the Internet of Things. These updates will enhance consumer convenience through strengthened coexistence capabilities for LTE support, enable large-scale data transmission, and allow devices to perform multiple roles simultaneously, helping developers achieve innovation. This new version also establishes the foundation for IP-based connectivity, expanding Bluetooth technology's role as an essential wireless link for the Internet of Things.

"Bluetooth Smart technology has driven our rapid growth, and we expect that over the next five years, the number of Bluetooth devices shipped annually will surge to over 4.5 billion units," said Suke Jawanda, Chief Marketing Officer of Bluetooth SIG. "We have updated the Bluetooth specification to respond to this anticipated growth, providing developers with the ability to better manage the roles their products perform, reducing interference with other wireless technologies, and enabling Bluetooth Smart products to exchange data at faster speeds and maintain connections without requiring user involvement. These updates reflect the market demand we have identified. We will continue to expand Bluetooth wireless technology to play an increasingly important role in the Internet of Things and evolve it to become the best solution for OEM manufacturers, developers, and ultimately consumers."

Enhanced User Convenience
Bluetooth 4.1 further expands the Bluetooth brand's promise to deliver a "just works" experience to consumers. Three major points regarding improved user convenience are as follows:

• Coexistence — Implemented to work seamlessly in coordination with modern mobile communication technologies such as LTE. The radio signals of Bluetooth and LTE communicate with each other, enabling harmonious transmission and reducing the possibility of interference in adjacent bands. Coordination between the two technologies occurs automatically, and consumers experience the high level they expect.

• Enhanced connection capability — Provides manufacturers with the ability to better control the creation and maintenance of Bluetooth connections by making reconnection time intervals flexible and variable. This feature improves the consumer experience by automatically reconnecting devices when they are in close proximity to each other. If a consumer leaves a room and returns, two recently used devices will automatically reconnect without user intervention.

• Improved data transmission capability — Bluetooth Smart technology provides large-scale data transmission capability. For example, sensors that collect data during running, cycling, and swimming can use this new feature to transmit the collected data after the consumer returns home, enabling more efficient transmission.

Empowering Developers with Innovation Capability
Bluetooth 4.1 expands the Bluetooth Smart development environment by providing product and application developers with the flexibility to develop products that perform multiple roles. With this new capability, a single device can simultaneously act as both a Bluetooth Smart peripheral and a Bluetooth Smart Ready hub.
For example, a smart watch can serve as a hub collecting information from a Bluetooth Smart heart rate monitor while also serving as a smartphone accessory that alerts users when new messages arrive on their mobile phone. As the Bluetooth Smart ecosystem grows, Bluetooth SIG expects more solutions performing hub and peripheral roles to emerge. Bluetooth 4.1 will bring this kind of flexibility to Bluetooth Smart device and application developers.

Enabling the Internet of Things
By adding to the core specification a standard for creating dedicated channels to be used for IPv6 communication, the foundation has been laid for future protocols that enable IP connectivity. As the use of Bluetooth Smart technology rapidly increases and IP connectivity is added in the near future, signals are appearing everywhere indicating that Bluetooth technology will become an essential wireless link for the Internet of Things. These updated features enable Bluetooth Smart sensors to also utilize IPv6, providing developers and OEM manufacturers with the flexibility necessary to ensure connectivity and compatibility.

For details on the latest Bluetooth 4.1 technology, tools, and other information including frequently asked questions and brand guidelines, visit https://www.bluetooth.org/en-us/specification/adopted-specifications.