Version 4.0 of the Bluetooth wireless specification has been approved by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) this week. What it means is that the Qualification Program is now open for the creation and sales of actual products based on the technology.

The most exciting component in Bluetooth 4.0 is probably the low energy technology that is now part of its core specification. In a statement on Tuesday, Mike Foley, executive director of the Bluetooth SIG described its inclusion as a "monumental achievement." According to the Bluetooth SIG, devices leveraging on the low power qualities of Bluetooth 4.0 will be able to run on as little as 10 percent of the power of "classic" Bluetooth devices that uses dual-mode chips.

This will allow a plethora of new devices that might not have been practical previously. Healthcare, fitness or home automation products can potentially operate for years on a standard set of coin-cell batteries. Ultimately, devices based on the new Bluetooth standard are expected to contribute significantly to the wireless sensor market by 2015, noted research firm West Technology Research Solutions.

For more on this story:
- check out this article at InformationWeek
- check out this article at eWeek

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