Bluetooth Internet Gateway: Dev Director Answers Your Questions

This week we had the opportunity to speak with Steve Hegenderfer, director of developer programs for Bluetooth SIG. This week Bluetooth SIG launched their new architecture and supporting set of educational tools called Bluetooth Internet gateway, allowing developers to "quickly create internet gateways for Bluetooth products." We asked him what this meant for the general consumer using questions sent to us by you! Have a peek and see if this new wave of simple integration will make your day.

For more information on this release, see our first article: Bluetooth web connections will put your smart home online. There we explain the basics and get you connected to the toolkit itself. That's if you're a developer in search of the kit, of course.

SlashGear Reader: How quick will this standard reach the consumer?Bluetooth SIG's Hegenderfer: "We expect to see more products available this year that will allow consumers to access, monitor, and control their Bluetooth devices from remote locations. I would expect more smart home products during the holidays."

"However, do want to clarify that there are Bluetooth enabled products available today allowing remote access such as set-top boxes, TVs, routers, and hubs including Google OnHub, OORT, and others. What we announced today, the Bluetooth Internet gateway is an architecture and supporting toolkit that standardizes how companies could integrate gateway functionality into their own devices/products for Bluetooth products."

SlashGear Reader: Does this mean that Bluetooth devices of all sorts will be able to access the internet via Wi-fi routers?Bluetooth SIG's Hegenderfer: "With the Bluetooth Internet Gateway Smart Starter Kit, now, manufacturers can easily include this technology into their Wi-Fi routers, obviating the need for the gateway."

"You could take the Bluetooth Internet gateway architecture announced today and put it directly into a router to enable the above solution."

SlashGear Reader: Laptops, for example, can connect to the web via Bluetooth tethering on a smartphone. Why hasn't Bluetooth provided internet connectivity through IoT devices before?Bluetooth SIG's Hegenderfer: "Bluetooth has provided internet connectivity through IoT devices. You can connect Bluetooth devices today via a laptop, phone, tablet, etc. The gateway allows you to do this in a headless manner, meaning without a screen."

"This is important in scenarios where your laptop/tablet/phone isn't at home or is off or with you, you can still access your Bluetooth devices through a stationary router in your home."

"For example, if you want to turn on your lights at home while you're in the office and you have your portable hubs such as laptop, phone, and tablet with you and they're not at home, then you won't be able to access and control your lights."

"However, if you have a stationary hub in the home, then you don't have to worry about it."

Thank you Steve and thank you SlashGear readers for submitting your questions! Remember that any time you have a question about a topic we're writing about and you'd like us to ask the experts, let us know! We'll do our best!