When a device is labeled Bluetooth Smart Ready it means both standards, Bluetooth Classic and Bluetooth Smart, are included in the device. Bluetooth Smart is not compatible with Bluetooth Classic it doesn't handle voice. It handles short bursts of data, like when a sensor is queried and responds with data. A device needs to offer a battery life of at least two years to pass ZigBee certification.īluetooth Smart, the most recent protocol of the group, was originally a Nokia developed protocol for low power communication that was merged with the Bluetooth standard in 2006. It was designed for low power operation and is not a rechargeable technology as it operates off a button cell battery for years. Zigbee was intended for home and building automation, a way to control devices without having to rely on power lines. It can handle data, voice and text, allowing earpieces, headsets, and keyboards to communicate with PC and mobiles wirelessly. From the beginning, Bluetooth Classic was intended to replace RS232 wired connections like those used to connect keyboards to PCs. The older technologies, ZigBee and Bluetooth Classic, were introduced in the 1990s. A newer Bluetooth protocol, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) or Bluetooth Smart, was introduced as a low power protocol and the original Bluetooth is now referred to as Bluetooth Classic. ZigBee® and Bluetooth® are wireless communication protocols, which have a suite of specifications for devices to follow so they can transfer information over the air.

Wifi vs bluetooth power consumption