Bluetooth 4.0 specification officially set

The final ratification of the Bluetooth standard paves the way for new devices

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has formally finalised the specification for version 4.0 of the wireless technology, allowing manufacturers to start testing and producing equipment.

Bluetooth v4.0 has been optimised for low power consumption, so that it can be used in a range of small local devices without requiring power infrastructure, and aiming for years rather than weeks of use from a single battery.

"The finalisation of Bluetooth low energy wireless technology within the Core Specification is a monumental achievement," said Michael Foley, executive director of the Bluetooth SIG.

"Bluetooth wireless technology can now, with the hard work of our members and our world-class qualification programme, really do it all."

The first products using the technology should arrive on the market at the end of the year. Invitations have already been issued for the UnPlugFest 37 event from 4 to 8 October in Barcelona, where connectivity can be checked.

"The advantage to this new protocol is that it is totally optimised for low power battery operation," said Kirsten West, principal analyst with West Technology Research Solutions.

"Bluetooth low energy will be a significant contributor to the overall wireless sensor network market, representing nearly half of all shipments in 2015."