Our Thoughts

2012 will really be the year of the mobile device. Every year it seems as if mobile devices become more powerful and have more features. Bluetooth low energy has the potential to become one of the phone features that gets deeply integrated into our lives.

Bluetooth low energy, also know as Bluetooth 4.0, is one of the new features of the iPhone 4S (and soon to be other phones) that hasn't been talked about much. It allows for very low energy (sometimes only 1% of the power consumption compared to standard Bluetooth) communication between the phone and devices. Imagine something similar to Near Field Communication (NFC) but with a far greater range and quicker setup time.

What could this be used for?

1. Communication between the phone and devices in your house without using Wi-Fi, allowing for battery-powered devices to communicate with Bluetooth 4.0 using watch batteries for power (lasting years).
2. Location placement of Bluetooth low energy devices allowing for the phones to detect location where GPS isn't possible (and avoiding the drain of GPS).  Imagine walking around in a store and getting information on sales, locations of items and coupons of items you are near.
3. Allowing the phone to track information automatically based on detection of a device (see http://kck.st/uUqZiW).
4. Health-monitoring devices that can automatically relay information.
5. Home automation equipment.
6. Remote control of televisions, cars and any other devices currently using RF (radio signals).

Like NFC, Bluetooth low energy needs to be adopted into the marketplace, but has a big advantage in using many of the same support technologies as standard Bluetooth, and increased range (up to 160 feet). As we see a greater ability for all electronic devices to be able to accept input, the use of a mobile device as a control center/truly universal remote for all electronics in the house can become a reality.

Apple didn't trumpet the inclusion of Bluetooth 4.0 support in the 4S probably due to a lack of current devices and applications to support it, but as the standard is adopted this could really become a killer feature in 2012.