Home › News ›

Bluetooth 3.0 Is Ready for Prime Time

Apr 9, 2009, 6:53 AM by Eric M. Zeman
updated Apr 9, 2009, 9:14 AM

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group is set to announce the Bluetooth 3.0 specification later this month. Bluetooth 3.0 will feature dramatically increased speeds, allowing for the transfer of large video files, music collections and photo libraries wirelessly 'within seconds'. The spec also includes a new ability called Enhanced Power Control. EPC will reduce the occurrence of disconnects that can be caused by actions such as putting a phone in a pocket, backpack, briefcase or purse. Bluetooth 3.0 uses Generic Alternate MAC/PHY (AMP). This is what lets Bluetooth profiles operate at Wi-Fi speeds. The 802.11 Protocol Adaption Layer (PAL) will enable the Generic AMP feature to be used with an 802.11 radio. Bluetooth is used to create the pairing between two devices, but the data transfer itself is handed off to Wi-Fi. In order to take advantage of the higher transfer speeds, both devices need Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. If Wi-Fi isn't present on one of the devices, the spec reverts to Bluetooth for data transfer. More details will be available, including a list of chip makers that are lined up to support the new spec, on April 21.

source: Bluetooth SIG

Related

iPhone 14 Plus Offers a Big Screen For Less

Sep 7, 2022
Apple has revealed the iPhone 14 series, with new features, improved specs, and new size options. In place of a Mini option, the iPhone 14 will come in the same 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screen size options as the Pro models.

Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Redefines AI in Flagship Phones

Nov 15, 2022
Qualcomm has announced its newest top-end chip, intended to power most flagship-level Android phones in 2023. As expected, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is more powerful and power-efficient across the board (compared to Gen 1), but the most impressive improvements and new features involve AI.

Qualcomm Taps Iridium for Satellite Connectivity

Jan 5, 2023
Qualcomm has revealed Snapdragon Satellite , the company's solution for connecting Android phones directly to satellites for truly global coverage. The feature uses the Iridium network, a satellite constellation that has has been in operation for 25 years.

iPhone 15 Series Goes All-In on USB-C and Dynamic Island

Sep 12, 2023
Apple has revealed the iPhone 15 series, which moves to a USB-C connector and brings several key features from last year's Pro models to the more-affordable standard models. These include the pill-shaped sensor cutout in the display that Apple calls Dynamic Island, a brighter display that can reach 2000 nits, a 48 megapixel main camera, and the A16 Bionic processor chip.

Motorola's new Edge+ has Dual 50 Megapixel Rear Cameras and 60 on the Front

Feb 24, 2022
Motorola has announced its new flagship phone for 2022: the Motorola edge+ (2022). Its most unique specs are the camera resolutions: 50 megapixel for both the main camera and wide-angle camera; the selfie camera also clocks in at an unprecedented 60 megapixel.

Comments

This forum is closed.

This forum is closed.

tlgreene1021

Apr 10, 2009, 7:50 PM

From the sound of it...

it would seem feasible for an existing device that has both bluetooth and Wifi could take advantage of Bluetooth 3.0 though a firmware update. Since basically it only uses bluetooth to pair the device and then passes it off to Wifi for data transfer.

Maybe I'm missing something tho... 😕

javier2100

this is what I meant to say thanks for making it clear. I have been unable to find any information so we will just have to wait

javier2100

Apr 9, 2009, 8:08 PM

backwards compatible?

will the PAL or AMP profile be backwards compatible with current phones that have wifi and bluetooth radios such as the nseries?

VOLVORacr

Apr 9, 2009, 3:52 PM

About time

Transfer speed, I feel, it the only limitation of wide use of Bluetooth...

Multiple device connection would be nice too.

But connection speed is the biggest.

Page 1 of 1