With Bluetooth 3.0 barely out the door, the Bluetooth SIG finalized the next version – Bluetooth 4.0. It builds on the previous version, but adds a new low power mode, which can be used by watches, training equipment and so on.

Bluetooth v4.0 will offer you three specifications in one: Classic Bluetooth technology, Bluetooth low energy technology and Bluetooth High Speed technology. These three specs can be used simultaneously or separately by different devices.
Bluetooth 3.0 brought high-speed transfers by piggy-backing on 802.11 technology and achieved maximum speeds of 24Mbps (vs. 3Mbps for 2.0 + EDR). Version 4.0 on the other hand is low-bandwidth, but low power enough to work on cell-button powered devices.

Use cases include sending Caller ID info to watches, data from pedometers, glucose monitors and so on without drying out the battery.

However, Bluetooth 4.0 incorporates classic Bluetooth, high-speed Bluetooth and low-power Bluetooth. According to the Bluetooth SIG, devices are now not limited to 10 meter range – ranges can go up to 60 meters.

Bluetooth 3.0 is not very popular among mobile phones right now, except for support in the odd Samsung, most new phones stick to 2.0 or 2.1 with Enhanced Data Rate (EDR).

The first Bluetooth 4.0 devices are expected to appear in late 2010 or early 2011. This could mean that mobile phones manufacturers will probably make the jump straight to Bluetooth 4.0 skipping ver. 3.0 altogether.

For more information see here


I wonder if Broadcom will entertain making a firmware for the N900 to be upgraded to 4.0? My post here shows that the N900 can be upgraded to any future bluetooth specifications, but with 4.0 being released in early 2011, does the N900 have a future for a 4.0 upgrade?