Whatever Sonos plans for its next speaker, it appears to include Bluetooth connectivity, according to new devices filed with the FCC (Federal Communications Commission).
Two new pieces of hardware have been attached to the FCC, the Verge reports, and one of them has built-in Bluetooth technology. This would be the first Sonos speaker to launch with both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi features.
For now, you need to connect the Sonos speakers to your home Wi-Fi network to stream music from a phone, tablet, or laptop on the same network. Bluetooth would allow direct connectivity from the phone to the speaker.
The Sonos One has built-in Bluetooth technology, but it's only used during the setup process. You can't use it to send audio streams directly to the speaker from an app (as you can with an Amazon Echo speaker).
Beyond the model number, S17, and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, the repository suggests that the new speaker will have a blue stripe, no doubt to indicate its better Bluetooth.
With Sonos events already scheduled for August 26 and 27, as well as press events, it looks like this new material may appear before the end of the month (and may well be featured at IFA 2019).
The speaker maker continues to expand its product portfolio by adding AirPlay 2 to its newest products, as well as support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. He also works on loudspeakers in association with Swedish furniture manufacturers.
Bluetooth would further expand the capabilities of Sonos speakers, allowing users to stream audio from any app on their phone or laptop, not just the apps specifically supported. through the Sonos platform.