Bluetooth Group Broadcast Audio

I have recently had a chance to play with a new prototype Bluetooth Low Energy Audio device. Or - should I be more specific - a new application (firmware) for an existing audio device that uses Bluetooth Low Energy Audio.

Think of it as any type of wireless earbuds or headphones or - increasingly popular - smart glasses with audio microphones and tiny speakers. The feature allowed an unlimited number of people who were in the radio range to talk to each other. Essentially a voice group chat.

That does not sound too exciting (definitely less than a space AI data center), but really brings the Bluetooth audio experience to a completely new level. Thing of it as voice chat rooms. Virtual rooms that you can "enter" with your earbuds and then chat with people. In a similar way to a Zoom call, but locally, peer-to-peer, without any supporting infrastructure or Internet connectivity. Great for events but also great for variety of other activities such as hiking or white water rafting, wherever there is a group of people who may be too far apart to talk to each other but can be virtually brought together by means of Bluetooth connectivity.

In quiet environments (like hiking), open air personal audio devices such as bone conducting earbuds or smart glasses will probably work best. For noisy environments (an airplane or just a busy street), noise-blocking earbuds will be better.

We are gaining support for Bluetooth Low Energy Audio as we speak. Android already has this and there are number of supporting earbuds or hearing aid devices. Everybody is of course waiting for iOS support, but this feature is probably too big to ignore for Apple.