Bluetooth 3.0’s revolution in speed


23 Apr 2009

Bluetooth 3.0, the latest and fastest standard in short-range wireless Bluetooth technology has been hotly anticipated for the past year, and none were disappointed as the official Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group) detailed the specifications at its annual All Hands meeting in Tokyo.

“Taking action like sending vacation photos straight to the PC with the click of a button in the blink of an eye – that’s compelling,” said Mike Foley, executive director of the Bluetooth SIG.

“Taking action like sharing videos of the kids from camcorder to TV as fast as family can take their seats on the couch – that’s memorable. Taking action like downloading complete music libraries from PC to MP3 player in less than a chorus line – that’s remarkable.”

The main differences between Bluetooth 3.0 and its predecessor – and what contributes to the great improvement in speed – is that it works in combination with Wi-Fi, thanks to the 802.11 Protocol Adaption Layer.

Two Bluetooth 3.0 devices will be able to connect over Wi-Fi for super-fast speeds, and when or if Wi-Fi coverage drops, data transfer switches seamlessly back to Bluetooth alone.

”Utilising the 802.11 radio was a natural choice, as it provides efficiencies for both our members and consumers – members get more function out of the two radios they are already including in devices, and consumers with Bluetooth v3.0 HS products will get faster exchange of information, without changing how they connect,” explained Foley.

By Marie Boran