Bluetooth 4.0 to run on low-energy technology

Bluetooth could now be enabled for watches, remote controls and in-home sensors

Bluetooth could see a huge leap in use after the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) announced that the standard for version 4.0 of the technology will focus on low energy consumption to increase its potential uses.

Michael Foley, executive director of the Bluetooth SIG, which met in Seattle this week, said that the group expects the new low energy mode to extend the length of time at which the technology can run.

"Bluetooth v4.0 throws open the doors to a host of new markets for manufacturers and products such as watches, remote controls and a variety of medical and in-home sensors," he said.

"Many of these products run on button-cell batteries that must last for years rather than hours, and will also benefit from the longer range enabled by this new version of the Bluetooth specification."

Analysts welcomed the announcement. Nick Jones, senior wireless analyst at Gartner, claimed that the low energy feature of Bluetooth v4.0 would be "truly groundbreaking".

"Gartner identified Bluetooth 4.0 as the top mobile technology to watch for in 2010 primarily because of its ability to smash open the barriers to new markets for Bluetooth technology and consumer electronics device manufacturers," he said.

The Bluetooth SIG expects the new technology to be brought to market by the end of the second quarter of this year, at which time mobile phone and PC manufacturers could begin to add the low energy technology to their products.

End-user devices with Bluetooth v4.0 are predicted to come to market in late 2010 or early 2011.