Wi-Fi Savvy Bluetooth 3.0 Coming April 21

By Geoff Duncan Published April 13, 2009

Wi-Fi Savvy Bluetooth 3.0 Coming April 21

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group has announced it will unveil its Bluetooth 3.0 specification on April 21, along with technical details and companies who are ready to roll out bew Bluetooth 3.0 technology. The Bluetooth 3.0 specification looks to add to Bluetooth’s wireless transfer performance by enabling the technology to switch to compatible Wi-Fi connections for large transfers: the idea is to enable quick transfers of data like music and video files, while using the slower (and more battery-friendly) Bluetooth radio for syncing things like contacts, appointments, and other smaller bits of information. With Bluetooth 3.0, folks who sync video and music to devices like smartphones should be able to get their media fixes without having to connect their gear up to a desktop or notebook PC with cabling.

According to industry sources, Bluetooth 3.0 won’t actually take over a device’s Wi-Fi connection and transfer data using TCP/IP protocols, or require a device to join an 802.11 network; instead, the specification will enable Bluetooth devices to use the Bluetooth protocol over an 802.11 radio without shutting down existing 802.11 traffic. Bluetooth 3.0 will also include Enhanced Power Control, which will reduce disconnects Bluetooth users often experience moving their devices around (or in and out of bags).

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Bluetooth 3.0 is seen as a bit of an interim technology that leverages the presence of a second, higher-bandwidth radio on some devices; in the background, the Bluetooth group is working towards adopting ultra-wideband technology from the WiMedia Alliance, with an eye towards eventually boosting Bluetooth speeds up to 480 Mbps.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

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