The role of Bluetooth in the Internet of Things

Invented by Ericsson in the early 1990s and initially standardized in 1999, most people associate Bluetooth with connectivity between a handset and an earpiece or mobile speaker.

But Bluetooth, which operates in the 2.4 GHz band using frequency hopping spread spectrum on 79 1-megahertz channels, has kept pace with technological evolution and found a place in both consumer-facing “Internet of Things” uses – smart homes and wearables, for instance – as well as in the industrial “Internet of Things” where adaptability and reliability are requisites.

To make this point, let’s take a look at a new Bluetooth module from Silicon Labs. The Blue Gecko BGM113 module has a 3-decibel milliwatt power output optimized for applications with a 150-foot range; the company says this is a good fit for “smartphone accessories, wearable sports and fitness products, wireless locks and point-of-sale devices.”