The Bluetooth 5 specification was announced in 2016, bringing features aimed mainly at the growing world of Internet of Things devices. Further updates followed in 2019, 2021 and 2023. Now it is time for an all-new version of the popular wireless standard - Bluetooth 6.0.
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has just released the core specification for the latest version of its namesake wireless technology. According to the organization, version 6.0 of the Bluetooth Core Specification introduces new features along with improvements to existing ones. The highlight of this release, however, appears to be a new option called Channel Sounding.
The Bluetooth SIG says Channel Sounding brings "true" distance awareness to Bluetooth-compatible devices, an innovation that could be transformative, with many benefits for the wireless ecosystem.
Backed by a "robust" security layer, the consortium says Channel Sounding will improve the user experience of "Find My" solutions, allowing users to pinpoint the location of their accessories with high accuracy.
Channel Sounding can achieve centimeter-level accuracy over long distances. The technology also ensures that only authorized users can open doors or access secure areas in buildings equipped with wireless security systems.
The Bluetooth SIG also stressed that developers will find Channel Sounding very useful, since its precise location awareness opens the door to many new applications.
The remaining features of the Bluetooth 6.0 standard bring welcome improvements to packet delivery and transmission efficiency. With Decision-Based Advertising Filtering, Bluetooth Low Energy Extended Advertising will improve scanning efficiency by reducing the time spent scanning secondary channels.
In addition, the Monitoring Advertisers feature improves power efficiency when a host device cannot tell whether a device is still in range. The Isochronous Adaptation Layer "enables larger data frames to be transmitted in smaller link-layer packets," with a new framing mode that reduces latency and increases reliability in sensitive applications such as audio devices.
The Bluetooth SIG emphasized its ability to regularly update the Bluetooth standard and introduce new features and improvements. What the organization did not mention, however, is how long it will take for these advances to show up in devices and accessories that consumers can actually buy.
So while the updates are promising, it could be several years before Bluetooth 6.0 features become common in consumer products. Keep your expectations in check for now.
The remaining features of the Bluetooth 6.0 standard bring welcome improvements to packet delivery and transmission efficiency. With Decision-Based Advertising Filtering, Bluetooth Low Energy Extended Advertising will improve scanning efficiency by reducing the time spent scanning secondary channels.
In addition, the Monitoring Advertisers feature improves power efficiency when a host device cannot tell whether a device is still in range. The Isochronous Adaptation Layer "enables larger data frames to be transmitted in smaller link-layer packets," with a new framing mode that reduces latency and increases reliability in sensitive applications such as audio devices.
The Bluetooth SIG emphasized its ability to regularly update the Bluetooth standard and introduce new features and improvements. What the organization did not mention, however, is how long it will take for these advances to show up in devices and accessories that consumers can actually buy.
So while the updates are promising, it could be several years before Bluetooth 6.0 features become common in consumer products. Keep your expectations in check for now.
Source: Techspot
