Bluetooth SIG has announced the release of a new specification for Bluetooth 6.0. One of the key features is the ability to determine the location of devices down to the centimeter, which will increase the security of access to protected areas and simplify the search for lost items. Data transmission and packet delivery efficiency have also been improved.
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This is the first major update since Bluetooth 5 was released in 2016, followed by additional updates in 2019, 2021 and 2023. Bluetooth 6.0 promises not just improvements, but a quantum leap in wireless connectivity.
The main innovation is Channel Sounding technology, which the Bluetooth SIG says provides “true” distance sensing, allowing users to locate devices and various accessories that require high positioning accuracy.
Channel Sounding also provides a high level of security by ensuring that only authorized users can unlock, for example, doors or access secure areas in buildings equipped with wireless security systems. Bluetooth SIG emphasizes that Channel Sounding will also be useful for application developers that use the precise location function.
In addition to Channel Sounding, Bluetooth 6.0 offers other “goodies” aimed at increasing the efficiency of transmission and delivery of data packets. For example, Decision-Based Advertising Filtering will improve scanning efficiency by reducing the time spent scanning secondary channels. Monitoring Advertisers will improve energy efficiency when it is not possible to determine whether a device is within range. And the new Isochronous Adaptation Layer will “allow larger data frames to be transmitted in smaller link-layer packets” and, thanks to a new framing mode, will reduce latency, improving reliability in sensitive applications such as audio peripherals.
Despite constant updates and the introduction of new features, SIG does not specify when Bluetooth 6.0 capabilities will appear on devices. It is noted that it may be several years before the 2024 specification becomes widely adopted in consumer electronics.