Bluetooth 3.0 might not even be available to the mainstream consumers yet, only making its appearance on high-end devices such as the highly anticipated Nokia N8 , but the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has already announced version 4.

SIG announced the formal adoption of Bluetooth Core Specification Version 4.0 yesterday.

“The finalization of Bluetooth low energy wireless technology within the Core Specification is a monumental achievement,” said Michael Foley, Ph.D., executive director, Bluetooth SIG. “Bluetooth wireless technology can now, with the hard work of our members and our world-class qualification program, really do it all.”

The main feature of the next version of Bluetooth is that it is a “low energy wireless technology” which will allow for ultra-low peak, average as well as idle mode power consumption, the ability to run for years on standard coin-cell batteries and an enhanced operating range.

Bluetooth SIG is consisted of various companies from the telecommunications (including Motorola and Nokia), computing (such as Intel, Lenovo and Microsoft), consumer electronics, automotive and network industries and is responsible for the development of Bluetooth wireless technology as well as bringing it to market.