Bluetooth 2.1+EDR Chipset by Atheros

Atheros announced the availability of a new chipset supporting Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR.
This single chip solution eliminates the need for external flash memory by integrating its own SRAM, making it a self managing solution, probably the best way to go.
The list of Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR enhancements:
- Secure Simple Pairing: Improves ease of pairing of Bluetooth devices while implementing strong security
- Encryption Pause and Resume: Increases security in the link by ensuring that no user data is transmitted without encryption and enables periodic update of the keys
- Extended Inquiry Response: Provides better filtering of devices before
connection
- Sniff Subrating: Reduces power consumption when devices are in the sniff, low-power mode, increasing battery-life
Many BT 2.0 components or devices can be upgraded to support such new features by simply updating their firmware. For Apple hardware, it remains unclear if current BT 2.0 compatible models would be upgradeable to 2.1 via a future update, Apple might request another fee, like they try to impose it for the 802.11n.