Skip to main content
The VergeThe Verge logo.The Verge homepage
The VergeThe Verge logo.

    Bluetooth standards group adopts GNSS Profile 1.0 for sharing location data

    Bluetooth standards group adopts GNSS Profile 1.0 for sharing location data

    /

    The Bluetooth Special Interest Group, which publishes specifications for Bluetooth, has adopted GNSS Profile version 1.0, a unified system for sharing location data across devices.

    By Adi Robertson, a senior tech and policy editor focused on VR, online platforms, and free expression. Adi has covered video games, biohacking, and more for The Verge since 2011.

    Via Phonescoop | Source Bluetooth SIG

    Share this story

    Bluetooth on iPhone stock photo
    Bluetooth on iPhone stock photo

    Last week, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), which publishes specifications for Bluetooth, adopted the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Profile version 1.0 for devices using Bluetooth 2.0 and up. GNSS is a system for transmitting GPS data between products, and using it as a unified standard will likely make it easier for location-aware Bluetooth devices to share information. Currently, devices can use proprietary formats or other formats not covered by the SIG. Developers can download the profile here (PDF).

    While we'll be happy to see better interoperability on Bluetooth, the standard has been in progress for a long time. The revision history stretches back to 2006, including a two-year gap in 2009 and 2010. However, that's not too unusual for an SIG decision: many of the other protocols were in progress for similar durations.