Since the implementation of Bluetooth 4.0 Low-Energy (BLE) in Android 4.3, the technology has been used in a variety of different form factors. Google has just begun implementing Bluetooth 4.1 in Android 5.0, and the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 have hardware support for the spec, but now the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has announced the updates spec for Bluetooth 4.2.
The update to Bluetooth 4.2 offers the promise of faster transfer speeds, with the Bluetooth SIG promising up to 2.5x faster data transfers between Bluetooth enabled devices. There will also be improvements in the BLE side of things, with promises that Bluetooth 4.2 will ‘make Bluetooth Smart even more power-stingy’.
Security wise, there’s a number of improvements with promises that new tech will stop Bluetooth Smart devices from being tracked, as well as including industry-standard FIPS-compliant encryption that will keep your data confidential.
Support for IPv6/6LoWPAN for Bluetooth Smart devices, is also included through Internet Protocol Support Profile (IPSP) .Bluetooth Smart Internet gateways (GATT) through HTTP Proxy will also be available in early 2015.
The Bluetooth 4.2 spec will be an extension of services for Bluetooth 4.0 and 4.1 devices. Although unfortunately, not all features from Bluetooth 4.2 will be available to Bluetooth 4.0 devices. We look forward to seeing further development of Bluetooth 4.2 in Android next year in Android M.
