The Bluetooth Special Interests Group (SIG) has spilled the beans on the latest version of Bluetooth specifications. Version 4.2 will bring improvements with regards to privacy, battery life and speed. Moreover, the updated technology will allow devices to connect directly to the Internet through IPv6/6LoWPAN (without a go-between), negating the requirement to have specific access points or hubs to gain access to multiple devices. Additionally, the wireless data transfer will be up to 2.5x faster with a substantial packet capacity increase.

“Bluetooth 4.2 is all about continuing to make Bluetooth Smart the best solution to connect all the technology in your life – from personal sensors to your connected home,” Mark Powell, Bluetooth SIG’s executive director said in a statement. “In addition to the improvements to the specification itself, a new profile known as IPSP enables IPv6 for Bluetooth, opening entirely new doors for device connectivity. Bluetooth Smart is the only technology that can scale with the market, provide developers the flexibility to innovate, and be the foundation for the IoT.”

The battery consumption feature alone is big deal for the next generation of mHealth services, enabling compatible/connected devices to work for longer hours on a single charge. Unfortunately though, no details on this matter have been provided, and we’ll have to wait a little longer to learn just how Bluetooth 4.2 is better than its predecessor.

“Bluetooth 4.2 is all about continuing to make Bluetooth Smart the best solution to connect all the technology in your life.”Finally, on the privacy front, the latest version of Bluetooth will bring along new protections against Beacons, which can locate and send notifications to nearby Bluetooth devices. Some retailers use Beacons to track and alert their shoppers, but with Bluetooth 4.2, users will have to opt in to the specific alerts they want to see.

The first Bluetooth 4.2 devices are expected to appear sometime in early/mid 2015.