2nd-gen Chromecast from 2015 goes through FCC again

This is a strange one: The 2015 Chromecast, the 2nd generation one that still retails for the same $35 price point it launched with, is going through the US FCC in a recent filing that took place over the weekend.

A little-known fact about the 2015 Chromecast is that it had a Bluetooth chip inside that was never active. Of course, in order to get clearance for any device sold in the US to use Bluetooth, it needs to be filed with the FCC. So Google is filing the Chromecast with the FCC again so that it can use Bluetooth communications.

The FCC filing refers to the original filing with FCC ID A4RNC2-6A5 and states that “a software change is being implemented to enable legacy Bluetooth operations.” Basically, the letter explains that the Chromecast’s hardware remains unchanged and that a future software change will enable the inactive Bluetooth chip for future 2nd generation Chromecasts sold.

Perhaps we’ll hear something about a Bluetooth feature during Google I/O. We could expect anything from a Bluetooth remote, game controller connectivity, or Bluetooth streaming to Chromecast. We’ll let you know when we learn anything more about Bluetooth on the Chromecast!

Source | Via