2 years of work with contributions from 47 working group members representing 22 member companies. That’s what it took to create the latest version of the Bluetooth Core Specification—Bluetooth 5, which was officially adopted on 6 December 2016.

With up to 4x the range, 2x the speed and 8x the broadcasting message capacity, the enhancements of Bluetooth 5 focus on increasing functionality for the Internet of Things (IoT). The improvements to advertising extensions allow more efficient use of broadcasting channels on the increasingly crowded 2.4 Ghz band, enabling richer connectionless solutions. For mobile phone developers creating the next generation of devices, the update to slot availability masks can detect and prevent interference on neighboring bands to improve coexistence and interoperability in a global environment. On top of all this, building products with Bluetooth 5 will support even better interoperability, as the team has incorporated over 440 performance fixes and enhancements.

“Bluetooth is revolutionizing how people experience the IoT. Bluetooth 5 continues to drive this revolution by delivering reliable IoT connections and mobilizing the adoption of beacons, which in turn will decrease connection barriers and enable a seamless IoT experience. This means whole-home and building coverage, as well as new use cases for outdoor, industrial, and commercials applications will be a reality. With the launch of Bluetooth 5, we continue to evolve to meet the needs of IoT developers and consumers while staying true to what Bluetooth is at its core; the global wireless standard, secure, connectivity.” Mark Powell, executive director, Bluetooth SIG.

Bluetooth 5 will transform the way people experience the IoT, making it more relevant, beneficial, and effortless. We can’t wait to see what you’ll create for the future of the IoT.

Learn more about Bluetooth 5