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Adoption of Latest Bluetooth Specification (Bluetooth 5) Finally Happened

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) officially adopted Bluetooth 5 as the latest version of the Bluetooth core specification this week. Key updates to Bluetooth 5 include longer range, faster speed, and larger bandwidth, as well as what the SIG says will be “improved interoperability and coexistence with other wireless technologies.”

There is no doubt that Bluetooth has revolutionized how people experience wireless connectivity, and the eventual IoT (Internet of Things). But, does Bluetooth 5 mean anything for AV?

Key feature updates include four times range (that means 400 feet), two times speed (that means 2 Mbps) and eight times broadcast message capacity (data packet of up to 255 octets). Longer range powers whole home and building coverage, for more reliable connections. Higher speed enables more responsive, high-performance devices. Increased broadcast message size increases the data sent for improved and more context relevant solutions.

bluetooth5So, to translate, the Barco ClickShare could be totally wireless via Bluetooth now. This would mean that future wireless collaboration systems could leverage Bluetooth for connectivity (and sending video and audio) and still be connected to Wi-Fi therefore you could be using a ClickShare-like product and still browse the Internet.

In the home, virtually everything you are networking today via Wi-Fi could be done with Bluetooth 5. So, this will certainly boost and simplify app-based home controllers.

Bluetooth 5 also includes updates that help reduce potential interference with other wireless technologies to ensure Bluetooth devices can coexist. And, Bluetooth is downwardly compatible.

Consumers can expect to see products built with Bluetooth 5 within two to six months of today’s release. If you’re into all the tech specs of Bluetooth 5, go here.

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