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SimpleLink CC2640 wireless MCU is the first device in mass production designed to support Bluetooth Smart 2016 updates

Guru** 105180 points
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: CC2640, CC2650

Please see the following ConnecTIng Wirelessly blog announcement detailing exciting enhancements coming to Bluetooth® Smart in 2016:

Today, the Bluetooth SIG announced its 2016 technology road map to include enhancements for the standard that is focused on increasing functionality with the Internet of Things (IoT).  Key updates include longer range, higher speeds and mesh networking. These updates will not only enhance existing Bluetooth Smart use cases but will allow the creation of innovative new products using Bluetooth low energy.

Our new and highly flexible SimpleLink™ ultra-low power CC2640 wireless microcontroller (MCU), released in February 2015 to mass production , was designed with the Bluetooth Smart 2016 standard enhancements in mind. The radio core is in itself a flexible multi-core system of MCUs that run firmware implementations of the various standards supported. As a result, updates to the RF protocol are supported by a simple firmware update. As the Bluetooth core spec is updated in 2016, TI will introduce CC2640 product updates that allow these new PHYs to be used to their full potential integrated into a Bluetooth low energy software stack. Customers who would like to pursue this path can already start developing on the CC2640 wireless MCU today.

So what are these new capabilities?

  1. Longer range will enable point-to-point and star networks to provide reliable, whole-house coverage for smart home applications such as security systems, lighting, smoke detectors and door locks. TI’s SimpleLink ultra-low power wireless MCUs provide industry leading RF performance to enable longer range and more robust connectivity today, and will introduce up to four times longer range with the Bluetooth Smart 2016 roadmap.
  2. Higher speeds will enable quicker data transfers from medical, sports and fitness applications while consuming less power and providing faster response time and better user experience.
  3. Mesh networks will provide robust networks with multiple nodes and will enable large building automation and industrial applications such as process control sensor networks, lighting and security systems. TI’s SimpleLink ultra-low power wireless MCU platform enables lower power mesh networks, without a single point of failure.

Product demonstrations and SDKs supporting the new Bluetooth Smart standard will be available based on the Bluetooth SIG’s schedule in 2016. These changes come on top of the BT4.2 core specification update TI intends to deliver via a SW upgrade to the CC2640 in 2016.

To start developing your Bluetooth Smart application today, visit the TI’s SimpleLink Bluetooth Smart CC2640 wireless MCU product folder and order a SensorTag kit that can connect your application to the cloud in less than three minutes. Use the Bluetooth Developer Studio to quickly develop your Bluetooth Smart application using TI’s BLE-Stack SDK.