In early 2020, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) unveiled plans for a new feature: wireless audio transmission to virtually unlimited receivers. Now the concept has a name: Bluetooth Auracast.
Being able to wirelessly transmit music or information via Bluetooth has many advantages. So far, however, the number of receivers was clearly limited. It was therefore not possible to listen to music together via headphones. The Bluetooth Special Group (SIG), which is responsible for the development of the radio standard of the same name, wants to tackle exactly this problem and is now concretizing the plans it has already formulated. The planned new function is called Bluetooth Auracast and should be specified in the specifications for Bluetooth LE Audio. What exactly should the function be able to do and when should it come?
Bluetooth Auracast – listen together
Until now it was possible to connect two devices that support this standard via Bluetooth. In theory, more connections are possible, but if you connect a smartphone to several speakers, for example, the music is only actively forwarded to one of them. With special adapters and/or apps, this problem can only be partially avoided and anything but trouble-free.
With Bluetooth Auracast, the SIG now wants to introduce a function that theoretically connects any number of Bluetooth headphones or speakers to one device. The function would of course be spatially limited by the range of the Bluetooth signal.
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When is the feature coming?
It is still difficult to estimate when the first smartphones, notebooks, televisions or systems with Auracast will come onto the market. The SIG speaks of a publication in the coming months. They could then share their audio wirelessly with nearby Auracast-enabled headphones, speakers, or hearing aids upon release.
In any case, the Bluetooh SIG sees potential for Auracast not only in the private sphere, but also in public space. The technology can make what was previously silent audible on headphones, for example: the sound from television sets and displays at train stations, squares, airports, in sports halls, restaurants or waiting rooms.
In addition, audio transmissions or announcements, which previously only ran via loudspeaker systems, can also be received directly with Auracast-enabled Bluetooth headphones or hearing aids. For example at conferences or in the cinema.
With information from the dpa