The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), the trade association responsible for advancing Bluetooth wireless technology, announced the adoption of Core Specification Version 2.1+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) on Monday.

Key enhancements in Bluetooth Core Version 2.1 +EDR include improved pairing between devices, security enhancements, support for NFC technology that would allow a user to hold two devices together at a very short range to start the quick pairing process, and enhanced power optimization increasing current battery life by up to five times in many devices.

The Bluetooth SIG anticipates silicon vendors such as Broadcom, CSR, Infineon and Texas Instruments will have Bluetooth v2.1+EDR chips available immediately and that the first products will follow by the end of the year.

Industry analyst Fiona Thomson of IMS Research said, “In 2006 a significant proportion of Bluetooth ICs sold were Version 1.1 and 1.2 but this is rapidly changing as new designs transition to Version 2.0 or 2.1 +EDR. Initial demand for 2.1+EDR indicates that following a period of migration, this version will become the default standard.”