The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) announced two new brand extensions to its globally recognized logo today in an effort to create consumer awareness around compatibility for new devices implementing Bluetooth v4.0 – the Bluetooth Smart Ready trademark and the Bluetooth Smart trademark. Bluetooth Smart Ready devices are phones, tablets, PCs and TVs that sit at the center of a consumer’s connected world and implement a Bluetooth v4.0 dual mode radio. Bluetooth Smart devices are sensor-type devices like heart-rate monitors or pedometers that run on button-cell batteries and were built to collect a specific piece of information. Bluetooth Smart devices include only a single-mode low energy Bluetooth v4.0 radio.
Bluetooth Smart Ready devices can connect to the billions of Bluetooth devices already in use today and also to new Bluetooth Smart devices just starting to enter the market. Bluetooth Smart devices, due to their revolutionary low power consumption, will only connect with products denoted with the Bluetooth Smart Ready mark, plus those designated specifically by product manufacturers.
“Here’s the truth of the matter: Bluetooth Smart and Bluetooth Smart Ready devices will revolutionize the way we collect, share and use information,” said Michael Foley, Ph.D., executive director of the Bluetooth SIG, in the press release. “In order to ensure consumers know what these extraordinary devices have to offer, we created the Bluetooth Smart and Bluetooth Smart Ready marks. These new logos will help consumers manage compatibility, and encourage manufacturers to build their best Bluetooth devices yet.“
A recent In-Stat report forecasts Bluetooth device shipments will exceed two billion in 2013 alone, fueled largely by the rapid introduction of Bluetooth Smart devices across many different industry segments.
“Consumers can look at new Bluetooth Smart Ready devices the same way they would a 3D ready TV – having the TV is just the first part of the puzzle, you need glasses and content in order to really experience 3D,” said Suke Jawanda, CMO of the Bluetooth SIG, in the press release. “Once consumers have a Bluetooth Smart Ready device, like the new iPhone 4S, they can continue connecting to existing Bluetooth devices and are also ready to experience the new world of Bluetooth Smart peripheral devices that will carry the Bluetooth Smart logo.”
More information on how a device qualifies to bear the new Bluetooth Smart designation, as well as detailed compatibility explanations and a general FAQ can be found at here.
Source: Bluetooth SIG
[Attribution: MacRumors.]
Sure lots of blow and no substance. They just needed a new positive spin on a crappy technology.
4.0 supposed to not be “crappy” any more, since it allows super low-power regimes of data transfer. It is almost like NFC in that.
So maybe Apple will use Bluetooth 4.0 instead of NFC for its payment/wallet system? Could be a few security wrinkles in there . . . .
“will revolutionize the way we collect, share and use information”
I call BS because we all know the “share” part will be completely limited to documents, photos, or something equally as useless. For sharing anything really desirable, people will continue to use links to server dropboxes, attachments, and Torrent clients.
Personally, I’d settle for a Bluetooth headset that isn’t a total piece of crap.
Abbreviated “BS”
And WHY doesn’t the Nano have Bluetooth… it seemed like such a logical route to go… especially after adding new clock faces.
I anticipate mini motion sensors, perhaps some with magnets, stuck to the fridge, front door, medicine cabinet, jewelry box, etc. to monitor activity, with simple notification to ios and osx devices. Thermometers, vehicle computers, noise sensors, light sensors, moisture sensors… the possibilities are endless. Truly revolutionary it will be, IMHO. I’d buy a load of Bluetooth stock if there were such a thing.
Still can’t send a photo via Bluetooth to my photo frame. Lets start the revolution with ordinary everyday things that have long been available on many other devices.