The Bluetooth Special Interest Group is prepared to announce the next version of Bluetooth and its capabilities, according to a letter from Executive Director Mark Powell. The organization said Bluetooth 5 will be the name of the next Bluetooth specification. The updated spec will make significant improvements to the range (quadrupled) and the speed (doubled) of data transfer possible between devices. Moreover, Bluetooth 5 will boost functionality for connectionless services, such as location-based information or navigation. The spec adds capacity for advertising transmissions, which can be used by Bluetooth beacons to surface notifications about sales or other promotions to smartphone users when they come into range. Mark Powell said full details of the specification will be revealed on June 16.


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