Bluetooth Version 2.1+EDR Offers Better Performance, Security

Just as Bluetooth 1.1 gave way to 1.2 and then 2.0, we’re ready for yet another standard in the world of wireless communications. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has announced the latest update to the Bluetooth standard: Version 2.1+EDR. There are several improvements in this new standard over its predecessor, the most notable of which is simplified pairing.

Under the new system, users will be able to pair two Bluetooth devices simply be turning them on “and they will automatically find one another and pair.” In this way, you won’t need to mess with long passcodes, because the entire process is automatic. I’m not exactly sure how they plan on preventing unauthorized devices from pairing with yours, but that’ll probably be outlined in some sort of document somewhere.

This simplified security is an integral part of the new standard. They also say that Bluetooth v 2.1+EDR will offer better power management and will extend battery life.