Pebble watch to get Bluetooth 4.0
updated 12:18 pm EDT, Tue May 8, 2012
Allerta adding Bluetooth 4.0 to Pebble watch for no extra cost
The record-setting growth of the Pebble watch concept on Kickstarter is continuing, and the team behind the smartphone companion device is continuing to rack in the support dollars. When the project gathered $3 million, designers announced they will make the case waterproof, and now that the $9m mark was breached, they said they will add Bluetooth 4.0 functionality to it. This shouldn't affect the launch date, and the functionality will be enabled after launch thanks to a software update.
Bluetooth 4.0 will continue to be backwards-compatible with Bluetooth 2.1, but is said to use much less power. Bluetooth 4.0 will be better able to connect with devices such as wireless heart monitors for workouts. The new feature won't bring up the price of the Pebble watch, however.
Allerta, the company behind the watch, will give those who donate $115 a basic Pebble watch. Pricing once the watch is no longer offered on Kickstarter hasn't been revealed yet.
