Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Software And Mobile Apps Development For IoT Systems

Why Do You Need BLE Software For The IoT Applications

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology is often used in the IoT applications due to its low power consumption and efficient data exchange protocols. Bluetooth is the only IoT technology that is natively supported by the devices people use: mobile phones and tablets. BLE protocol is standard and is well defined, making it possible to mix and much IoT devices, software and mobile apps from the different vendors. These features make BLE a preferred technology for the IoT systems. Bluetooth low energy is used in various IoT solutions, from smart homes to the industrial automation systems. And for each project you need BLE development, whether it is a cloud software, a mobile app, a gateway software, a firmware or any combination of the above.

What Is Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)

Bluetooth low energy (BLE) is a protocol for the wireless communication between devices within the short range. BLE protocol is based on the classic Bluetooth. However, unlike classic Bluetooth, BLE is very energy efficient. It is designed for the short bursts of data rather than non stop communication.

Bluetooth low energy was created to meet the needs of the smart IoT and wearable devices. As a rule these devices work on the batteries, and low energy use is vital for them. Smart devices also do not need continuous data stream of Bluetooth classic. They only need to exchange short messages once in a while, for example send out sensor data.

Bluetooth low energy uses very low power since it is in the "sleep" mode most of the time. It wakes up to send out a short message and falls asleep again until the next data exchange period.

BLE has several levels of security built-in, giving mobile app developers an option of low or high security based on the specific project. BLE is a standard protocol, which means that you can combine devices, mobile apps and software from the different vendors.

What Is Internet Of Things (IoT)

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of connected devices, or "things", that can exchange data with each other and with the remote cloud server. IoT technology automates business operations, reduces the need for the manual labor and provides valuable data to the companies. Some examples of IoT applications in business include:

• IoT asset tracking. An IoT asset tracking system allows companies to track assets, equipment and tools automatically using BLE tags and Bluetooth IoT gateways.
• IoT conditions monitoring. Bluetooth IoT sensors allow companies to remotely monitor conditions for the equipment, inventory and properties. This can include IoT temperature and humidity monitoring, monitoring for the unusual vibration patterns on the equipment, pressure and pH monitoring, etc. A company can data logs from the multiple sites remotely via a single dashboard, and receive instant alerts if anything goes wrong.
• Predictive maintenance.Monitoring of equipment conditions allows companies to detect issues early and correct them in time. It prevents equipment break downs and extends its useful life.
• Smart buildings. IoT systems in the smart buildings save energy, reduce manual labor, and make all systems within the building operate smoothly with less breakdowns. IoT is mostly used for the smart lighting systems, HVAC systems and security systems.

In the consumer market, IoT devices are used in the smart homes, providing home owners with the extra convenience and comfort.

Why Use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) For IoT Systems

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology offers several advantages that make it well-suited for the IoT systems:

BLE has very low power usage

One of the most significant advantages of BLE is its low power usage. BLE devices can operate for months or even years on a small coin cell battery, making it ideal for IoT devices that need extended battery life.

BLE devices are low cost

BLE chips are very inexpensive, which makes mass production of IoT devices cost-effective. Low cost of devices is crucial for the IoT applications, since IoT systems often consist of many devices interacting with each other and the cloud.

BLE works with the mobile phones and tablets

BLE is the only IoT technology that is natively supported by the devices people use - mobile phones, tablets and laptop computers. This makes it easier and less expensive to develop IoT software and mobile apps. Ability to use mobile phones instead of the specialized equipment reduces hardware cost required for the system deployment.

BLE has built-in security

BLE has various levels of security built-in, allowing mobile apps developers to pick the the right security level for a specific IoT application.

BLE supports mesh networking

BLE mesh allows for the creation of the large-scale networks where many devices can exchange data with each other. This is very useful for the smart buildings and industrial applications where IoT devices are spread over a large area. BLE mesh also decreases the number of gateways required for the system deployment, and thus reduces overall cost of the IoT system.

BLE Beacons

BLE beacons are small plastic tags that can broadcast signal to the neaby BLE receivers. BLE receiver can be a smartphones or tablet, a computer or a dedicated gateway. BLE beacons technology has a lot of use in the industry. It provides a base for the asset tracking apps, people tracking, visitor check in and check out systems and proximity marketing applications, just to name a few.

BLE Software, Mobile Apps And Firmware: Ready-To-Go Products And Custom Development

AHG has a number of ready to go BLE based software products. These include a Bluetooth IoT asset tracking system, a BLE mesh software and a Bluetooth IoT gateway software. We will work with you to customize existing BLE software to your requirements if needed. If you need a custom software and mobile apps development, our existing code base will make it faster and at a lower budget.

We have experience developing Bluetooth software and mobile apps in the following areas: