Mindtree becomes the world’s first Bluetooth Smart 4.2 IP provider

This will enable Mindtree to offer Bluetooth Smart next generation IoT devices

Mindtree, a global technology services company, today announced the qualification of its Bluetooth Smart IP for version 4.2. Mindtree has been a leading provider of Bluetooth Intellectual Property solutions over the last 15 years and this qualification is the most recent in its long list of Bluetooth IPs.

Bluetooth Smart version 4.2 focuses on stronger security and privacy, faster data rates and better power efficiency. It heralds a new wave of Bluetooth products and will accelerate growth in emerging categories such as wearables, smart homes, connected medical devices and smart location tracking. The upcoming Internet Protocol Support Profile enables seamless connectivity over IPv6, a key foundation layer for the Internet of Things (IoT) market.

Jayanth Krishna, Head – Short-range Wireless, Mindtree, said, “For 15 years, Mindtree has been at the forefront of Bluetooth innovation. Mindtree’s IP has reached millions of devices globally across smart connected devices, automotive, audio accessories and personal navigation. Our investments in expertise and technology are paying off in helping to accelerate the use of wearables and other smart connected devices.”

Errett Kroeter, Senior Marketing Director, Bluetooth SIG said “We are excited to see our member companies embrace the potential of Bluetooth Smart technology, with its IP connectivity capabilities in addition to the increased speed, stronger security, and enhanced power efficiency of Bluetooth 4.2. Our membership continues to build a richer Bluetooth Smart ecosystem, bringing more Bluetooth Smart products to the consumer. Bluetooth Smart is the only wireless technology that provides the flexibility to innovate, ability to scale to the market, and trust of a globally recognized standard. All of which are essential to delivering the promise of IoT.”

Mindtree offers a comprehensive portfolio of Bluetooth intellectual property solutions and a range of design, engineering, testing and consulting services for semiconductor vendors and original equipment manufacturers.

Bluetooth 4.2 : Up Close

According to more information available from Bluetooth SIG, it states, " The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) officially adopted version 4.2 of the Bluetooth core specification this week. Key updates in 4.2 improve privacy and increase speed, and a soon-to-be ratified profile will enable IP connectivity. Bluetooth 4.2 opens up new opportunities for developers, OEMs and the industry to build a better user experience for consumers while creating use cases never before imagined.

“Bluetooth 4.2 is all about continuing to make Bluetooth Smart the best solution to connect all the technology in your life – from personal sensors to your connected home. In addition to the improvements to the specification itself, a new profile known as IPSP enables IPv6 for Bluetooth, opening entirely new doors for device connectivity,” said Mark Powell, executive director of the Bluetooth SIG. “Bluetooth Smart is the only technology that can scale with the market, provide developers the flexibility to innovate, and be the foundation for the IoT.”

Privacy and Security

Bluetooth 4.2 introduces industry-leading privacy settings that lowers power consumption and builds upon the government-grade security features of the Bluetooth specification. The new privacy features put control back into the hands of the consumer by making it difficult for eavesdroppers to track a device through its Bluetooth connection without permission. For example, when shopping in a retail store with beacons, unless you’ve enabled permission for the beacon to engage with your device, you can’t be tracked.

Speed

Bluetooth 4.2 increases the speed and reliability of data transfers between Bluetooth Smart devices. By increasing the capacity of Bluetooth Smart packets, devices transfer data up to 2.5 times faster than with previous versions. Increased data transfer speeds and packet capacity reduces the opportunity for transmission errors to occur and reduces battery consumption, resulting in a more efficient connection.

Internet Connectivity

Building on the capabilities released earlier with Bluetooth 4.1 and the new features released in 4.2, the Internet Protocol Support Profile (IPSP) will allow Bluetooth Smart sensors to access the Internet directly via IPv6/6LoWPAN. IP connectivity makes it possible to use existing IP infrastructure to manage Bluetooth Smart “edge” devices. This is ideal for connected home scenarios that need both personal and wide area control. This profile will be ratified by the end of the year.