OUR DIFFERENCES
Bluetooth has been used to exchange data over short-wavelength UHF radio waves. We have been using Bluetooth to communicate with each other, or with other devices. Bluetooth has given us a way to communicate and transfer data in a fast and convenient way replacing wired connection. The application ranges from communication between two devices, streaming audio to a headset, short range transit of health information, file transfers, real time location system, and a lot more. The Bluetooth does have a lot of applications, but the only limitation is its range and the speed of the data transfer.
The Bluetooth manager, Bluetooth Special Interest Group, has recently announced the new Bluetooth 5 update. The specs are now ready to be disseminated, it now has twice the speed and expanded the network coverage. Is will soon resolve the range limitation that restricts users.
Before the update is released here are things to look forward to when it comes to Bluetooth5:
Faster
This update will make your transfers faster. Bluetooth SIG states that it will be faster than the current Bluetooth 4.2 LE with a broadcast speed of 800% making data transfer up to 2mbps. The Bluetooth 5 is backward compatible, so long as the device meets the minimum requirement, but it speculated the 2017 flagship devices might not all come with the new Bluetooth 5 preinstalled.
Wider Range
The last Bluetooth version had a 50 to 100m range so long as it is in the line of site outdoors, and up to 20m indoors. Bluetooth 5 will expand that range up to 200m outside and at least 40m indoors. This change in the indoor range will enable more possibilities when it comes to home automation and enables a Smart Home. Paired with the speed upgrade, this will increase the power efficiency while allowing coverage for the entire house. With Bluetooth 5 you are now able to wander farther from your device with a more stable connection, and you won’t experience disconnection. There might not be any improvement for the Bluetooth 5, but it will be the standard for future improvements and adjustments. Since you have a farther reach, you will now be able to walk around with your phone by the poolside, even when paired with a speaker, without any connection issues.
Internet of Things (IOT)
With the advent of the internet capable devices, this update is IOT capable and will aid in the strength of the connection and enable everyday devices to be connected to the internet. It is said to be equipped with power optimization where it draws less power which is ideal for smart home kits. You will now be able to turn your switch on or off, or control other devices from another room in the house. Another Bluetooth innovation to look forward to is the mesh networking that will help push IOT especially when every electronic device is connected to the internet.
Network
There will be an added navigational feature which can be used with indoor beacons. Strategically placed Bluetooth hubs will now be smart enough to transmit information and analyze the connection required, eliminating the long process of pairing devices. Location aware device will now be able to share location more efficiently even without the need of internet or WiFi connection. People can now get directions on how to get to a particular establishment inside a building. A customer can easily look for a coffee shop in a mall and never get lost, or find a terminal at the airport and make it in time for their flight.
Bluetooth has been available for a long time, and the promise is a paired connectivity which does not rely on the internet, or on any wires. It had taken a while before Bluetooth became universally available. It is not a coincidence that this technology got a very big boost when smartphones started using it.
Although there are a lot of uses for Bluetooth, initially users had been connecting via Bluetooth to transfer files. This became quite common for a cellphone to cellphone file transfers. However, the initial uses of Bluetooth suffered from security issues and connectivity problems. For one, it was relatively easy to latch on to an openly discoverable device. It came to the point that there was no need for user intervention to connect to an open Bluetooth device. People didn’t know that their Bluetooth connection was open.
However, even if most devices had open access to Bluetooth, there were some pairing problems. Up to a few years ago, it was hard to connect to another device if these were from different manufacturers. It is ironic that a connectivity protocol or device would have security problems at the same time it was also having problems with connectivity. Since then, Bluetooth manufacturers have been able to solve the security problem, by setting Bluetooth closed by default.
The pairing issue remains as a big thorn in the side of different manufacturers. Although it has changed a bit, the point that it takes a longer time to connect compared to the time spent trying to discover other devices.So far, there are operating systems which pair faster than others, at the same time, some pairing types are faster than most.
With Bluetooth 5.0 arriving soon, there are definite advantages to waiting for the new protocol to be implemented before buying a new smartphone. However, if you have already set your sights on a new smartphone, then you would have to wait for another cycle to benefits from Bluetooth 5.0.
