Will Bluetooth be replaced by other technologies? NFC and WIFI are threats

It has been 20 years since the advent of the Bluetooth Technology in 1994 and has now evolved to version 4.1. However, new connection technologies like NFC and WIFI all seem to be a threat to the bluetooth technology. Will Bluetooth be replaced eventually?

What can Bluetooth do?

Bluetooth is a wireless communication technology that enables wireless connection between local devices, such as data transmission between mobile phones, audio transmission between mobile phones and Bluetooth speakers, and headphones. It also has certain control permissions, many keyboards, mice, and game controllers also use Bluetooth technology.

The latest application form of Bluetooth is "Internet of Things". Many smart furniture and wearable devices are actually connected through Bluetooth. In addition, it is also applied in innovative technology fields, for example, generate a password for Bluetooth to lock the door and open a home alarm. There is no doubt that Bluetooth is currently the most popular and convenient wireless connection technology.

Development of Bluetooth Technology

Currently, the latest version of Bluetooth is 4.1, which can transmit data to the host in an enhanced form, giving developers more flexibility. Early Bluetooth had to communicate directly with the host, but now the device can be stored separately, and then the data is fed back to the host.

For example, for a popular pedometer or sports bracelet product, if a Bluetooth version of 4.0 or lower is used, data needs to be sent to the mobile phone in batches, which consumes a lot of power, while version 4.1 can store data, after the operation is completed, it is sent to the mobile phone together. This is a more efficient way to reduce reliance on the mobile phone while saving power. This feature will also have a huge impact on Iot devices. However, since version 4.1 was officially released in last December, it still takes time to popularize it.

Competitors: NFC and WIFI

Although bluetooth technology has been improving, competitors are also emerging, such as NFC and WIFI.First of all, NFC (Near-Field Communication Technology) is more easily connected. As long as NFC-enabled devices touch each other gently, connections can be realized. This is especially suitable for point-to-point connections within short distances, at the same time, the power consumption is also lower. However, its disadvantage lies in its distance, which requires about 4 cm contact to achieve transmission, while Bluetooth can now achieve a connection distance of 100 meters.

Currently, NFC is usually used as a "bridge operator". Android devices often use NFC as a Bluetooth verification method, removing the hassle of pairing and directly implementing Bluetooth connections through contact. Samsung S-Beam also uses a similar form, but does not connect to Bluetooth, but to WIFI.

Obviously, due to its own distance limitations, NFC cannot replace Bluetooth, but is complementary, so there is actually no much threat to Bluetooth.

Next, let's look at WIFI. Compared with NFC, Wi-Fi has no distance restrictions, and many aspects are similar to Bluetooth, so it is more threatening. Wi-Fi direct connection has been applied by many devices, such as Sony QX wireless lenses and Sonos speakers, in various fields such as printing, gaming, video, music, and display. In addition, compared with the 24 Mbps transmission rate of Bluetooth, WIFI can achieve a maximum speed of Mbps, and is expected to achieve 2 GB Data Transmission per second in the future, which is also one of the advantages that Bluetooth cannot achieve.

So Will WIFI replace Bluetooth directly? Maybe. However, this does not mean that the bluetooth device will completely disappear. Because the biggest drawback of WIFI is the high power consumption, it is not suitable for wearable, fitness and other devices that require low power transmission. However, for household applications, such as wireless speakers and Video Synchronization transmission, WIFI is obviously more advantageous.

The future of Wireless Transmission

Obviously, after 20 years of development, the bluetooth technology has gained a lot of fans, and the technology is constantly improving. Vendors like Jawanda are still optimistic about the bluetooth technology. The low cost, high performance, simplicity, and universality of Bluetooth have become the active parts of the manufacturers.

Of course, the trend of WIFI cannot be ignored, but in the short term, it will still appear as a supplement to Bluetooth, and adopt a more suitable wireless connection technology for different devices, in order to make the device have the most perfect experience.