Bluetooth version 4.0, closer to the launch

During a meeting that took place these days in Seattle, USA, the experts responsible for developing the Bluetooth technology have revealed new data about the upcoming Bluetooth Core Specifications Version 4.0.

Expected to be available to the manufacturers in the second quarter of 2010, Bluetooth version 4.0 features an extremely low energy mode.

Thanks to this, the members of Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) hope to extend the use of Bluetooth technology to a numnber of other fields and devices, like security equipment, fitness and medical devices or the home entertainment sector.

Because many of these devices use small, button-cell type batteries, the use of previous, more energy consuming versions of Bluetooth was not an option. Now thanks to the very small energy required by version 4.0 to transmit, manufacturers are expected to show serious interest. We will be able to see Bluetooth conectivity in devices like glucose monitors , watches, body sensors and most mobile phones.

Version 4.0 will also have a longer range and higher transfer speeds, thanks to the three technologies used together by the company – Classic Bluetooth, Low energy Bluetooth and High speed Bluetooth.

The first devices that use the Bluetooth version 4.0 are expected to hit the market at the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011.