Bluetooth, the oldest short-range wireless technology, continues to be the most widely adopted in wireless products. Emerging around 1998, it has become a popular standard used in Internet of Things (IoT) products. Thanks to ongoing development and improvement of Bluetooth, it’s turned into a popular wireless choice, let alone for the fact that it’s readily available, easy to design with, low cost, and proven reliable in a wide range of applications. Bluetooth chips and a wide range of systems-on-chip (SoCs) incorporating the technology are some of the highest-volume wireless devices sold.
With such a reputation, you should know more about Bluetooth in case you suddenly need to incorporate wireless in your design. Consider this article to be an introduction to Bluetooth for the uninitiated, a refresher to those planning a new project, and a summary of how to select a Bluetooth device. This coverage focuses on what’s become the most popular version, known as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).