The Bluetooth technology facilitates wireless data transmission within short-range of distance in an automatic, accessible and affordable way. Though the data transmission between the mobile applications looks simple and direct, when a connection is initiated between the Bluetooth device and Bluetooth supporting mobile app, it scans the profiles and informations are exchanged or transferred only upon profile match.
In case of mobile devices, different mobile operating systems support the different Bluetooth profiles. That is, a mobile app built on iPhone OS supports the profiles that are compatible with the iPhone OS. There exists no uniformity in terms of the Bluetooth profiles.
Some of the Bluetooth profiles used in Mobile Application Development are as follows.
Serial Port Profile (SPP): This enables RS-232 standard technology (transmission of data via wires).
Hands-Free Profile (HFP): This enables to make and receive calls from the Hands free device. This technology is used in connecting the mobile phone with the car’s audio system in such a way that riders may converse without using the phone.
Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP): This enables transmission of audio stream from a phone or the Laptop to Bluetooth headsets.
Health Device Profile (HDP): This establishes links between the medical devices such as blood pressure monitors, glucometers, weighing scales, and, etc.
General Attribute Profile (GATT): All the peripheral devices could be connected to one central device in a given time.
However, to combat with the high power consumption of the bluetooth devices, the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology introduced into the 4.0 version consumes less energy as minimal amount of data are transmitted periodically in the form of packets over a small distance. The BLE mobile app technology is making the lives smart. The Bluetooth Low Energy Technology usage for data transmission into the mobile apps at specified time is being deployed at retail outlets offering a personalized shopping experience for the customers.
