Bluetooth 2.1 to Come to Consumers

March 7, 2007 – Mobile phone users can look forward to the next version of Bluetooth, version 2.1, according to the trade association non-profit group Bluetooth Special Group (SIG) that proposed new specifications of Near Field Communication (NFC) for the wireless technology. Bluetooth 2.1 promises to offer overall simplified file transfer, less power consumption, and a longer battery life than current Bluetooth 2.0 technology, said Bluetooh SIG executive director Michael Foley to the Washington Post in a news article today.

 

Current Bluetooth technology allows users to wireless transfer files at varying distances depending on radio proximity, according to SIG. Class 1 allows transfer for up to 300ft., class 2 for up to 30ft., and class 3 offers up to 3ft. of file transfer.

 

The newest version of Bluetooth 2.1 will use “near field communication,” a dedicated short-range wireless connectivity that engages file transfer between two devices that are few centimeters apart. The benefit of NFC is that no additional setup is required from the user and date connection can occur simply by touching the devices together, according to the industry association NFC Forum. 

 

Uses for the Bluetooth 2.1 are widespread, with possible applications including computer connectivity, car compatiblity, and of course, mobile phone data transfer. On a consumer level, a user could take a photo with his or her camera phone and bring the mobile device close to a Bluetooth-enabled digital picture frame for immediate upload, as demonstrated by Foley to the Washington Post.

 

Details will be finalized by the end of the month, while consumers can expect the new Bluetooth technology within the next 6 months, according to the Post.