Thursday, June 10, 2004
New Bluetooth Spec Increases Speed to 2.1Mbps
Posted by Jonathon Watkins in "OFF-TOPIC" @ 02:00 PM
The Register are reporting that a new version of the Bluetooth specification called Bluetooth Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) is being developed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. The biggest change to the current specification is the speed increase from 712Kbps to 2.1Mbp, caused mainly by increasing the compression ratio of the data packet sent.
"The SIG says EDR will consume less power than the current version - it reckons EDR devices will eke out battery power for twice as long as Bluetooth units do today. And the new specification also provides improved facilities to use several functions or devices simultaneously, due to more available bandwidth. The Bluetooth SIG expects the EDR specification to be finalised this coming Autumn. Products based on the specification are set to ship some time in 2005."
The official Bluetooth press release is here. Bluetooth EDR should be backwards compatible with current Bluetooth devices, which is jolly decent of them. A tripling of speed is welcome, but it does not quite match the 480Mbs on offer with Wireless USB. Still, it looks like more and more devices are coming with Bluetooth built into them these days. Who was it again that said Bluetooth is only needed in Europe? Of course, not everyone is convinced. :wink:
"The SIG says EDR will consume less power than the current version - it reckons EDR devices will eke out battery power for twice as long as Bluetooth units do today. And the new specification also provides improved facilities to use several functions or devices simultaneously, due to more available bandwidth. The Bluetooth SIG expects the EDR specification to be finalised this coming Autumn. Products based on the specification are set to ship some time in 2005."
The official Bluetooth press release is here. Bluetooth EDR should be backwards compatible with current Bluetooth devices, which is jolly decent of them. A tripling of speed is welcome, but it does not quite match the 480Mbs on offer with Wireless USB. Still, it looks like more and more devices are coming with Bluetooth built into them these days. Who was it again that said Bluetooth is only needed in Europe? Of course, not everyone is convinced. :wink:
