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Bluetooth technology is set for an upgrade next year, driven by increasing its Internet of Things (IoT) functionality.The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has provided details of its 2016 technology roadmap, with key updates to include longer range, higher speeds and mesh networking.
Bluetooth SIG states the advancements will “energise fast-growing industries, such as smart home, industrial automation, location-based services and smart infrastructure”.
Gartner this week forecast a 30 per cent year-on-year rise in connected things in 2016, growing to 6.4 billion connected things in use worldwide, the equivalent of 5.5 million new things being connected a day.
By 2020, Gartner has forecast that 20.8 billion devices will be in use.
Bluetooth SIG has advised that the range of Bluetooth Smart is set to increase up to four times, delivering “an extended, more robust connection for full-home or outdoor use cases”, while a 100 per cent increase in speed will come without increasing energy consumption.
Mesh networking, meanwhile, “will enable Bluetooth devices to connect together in networks that can cover an entire building or home, opening up home and industrial automation applications”.
“There is significant demand from our members and the industry at large to enhance Bluetooth with the new capabilities we’re announcing today,” Toby Nixon, Bluetooth SIG board of directors chairman, commented.
“Current projections put the market potential for IoT between $2 and $11.1 trillion by 2025. The technical updates planned for Bluetooth technology in 2016 will help make these expectations a reality and accelerate growth in IoT.”
