What Bluetooth 5 Will Bring to Internet of Things Devices in 2017

Wireless devices that support the Bluetooth 5 standard, which promises to bring faster performance longer range and enhanced security, will start to reach the market in greater number during 2017.

The ability for data to be transmitted quickly between devices is critical with Bluetooth. That’s why the Bluetooth SIG says Bluetooth 5 will have twice the speed of previous-generation technology. However, speed may vary depending on the device.

In addition to speed, Bluetooth 5 will offer four times the range of earlier Bluetooth devices. So, while Bluetooth-enabled products can transfer information at up to 30 yards in some cases, Bluetooth 5 will greatly expand that range. In improved range will make the devices more versatile and more reliable.

Bluetooth data throughput doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. However, as data throughput increases, device makers can bundle more sophisticated wireless features into their products. That’s why Bluetooth 5 will increase its data throughput by eight times compared to earlier Bluetooth technology.

According to Bluetooth SIG, it’s developed and released Bluetooth 5 now to get the technology ready for what it believes, will be a massive influx of “wireless products” in the coming years. In fact, Bluetooth SIG predicts that 13.9 billion wireless products will ship by 2020, and a third of those will ship with Bluetooth.

Bluetooth 5 is designed with the Internet of Things in mind and will make it easier for devices to display location awareness and the ability to process contextual data based on what a person is doing with the respective Bluetooth product.

With hackers now targeting Internet of Things devices, Bluetooth 5 will need to deliver better security. Luckily, Bluetooth SIG says its new technology has been secured to confront some of the attacks it might face in the coming years. Bluetooth SIG didn’t share details on security enhancements, but Bluetooth 5 should be harder to hack than Bluetooth 4.

Bluetooth 5 has been optimized to run with lower power consumption than previous Bluetooth technologies. That means the batteries in wireless devices won’t be drained as quickly by Bluetooth 5 as they were in previous iterations. That’s another critical component in getting Bluetooth into more wireless devices.

With more wireless signals than ever in the air, it’s getting harder for Bluetooth devices to work without signal interference. So, Bluetooth SIG has bundled some improvements in Bluetooth 5 that will make the technology less likely to suffer interference from other wireless technologies.

In total, Bluetooth 5 was developed by a team of 47 people who work at 22 companies around the world. Those companies include Intel, Broadcom, and Texas Instruments. Other chip makers, including Qualcomm, MediaTek, and Marvell, were also involved in developing Bluetooth 5.

Bluetooth SIG hasn’t provided an exact time table on when Bluetooth 5 will be making its way to devices. However, the organization did say that it has handed over its finalized specification to companies and they’re now working on delivering the technology in their products. Expect to find Bluetooth 5-ready devices on store shelves within the next few months.