Bluetooth Auracast Coming Soon to iPhones for Easy Connectivity

One of the main hurdles preventing Auracast from gaining traction in the mainstream market is the lack of support from certain companies, with Apple being a notable example. With iOS holding 58 percent of the market share in North America and nearly 28 percent globally, if Apple were to enable native Auracast support, it could lead to millions of Auracast devices hitting the market through a simple firmware update. However, Apple has yet to comment on Auracast, and it seems unlikely that we’ll hear anything soon.

Enter Atitan, an audio technology company that believes it has a solution. They are developing a compact, disc-shaped transceiver called the splitR, designed to attach to an iPhone’s MagSafe, transforming it into an Auracast device capable of both transmitting and receiving broadcasts. Their connectR app, set to launch this summer on both the Apple App Store and Google Play, will let users discover nearby broadcasts, manage connected devices, and create their own Auracast channels or group listening sessions. The app will also integrate with various streaming platforms, allowing users to play songs and playlists, and it will include a social feature for posting and chatting with friends.

The splitR isn’t limited to Apple devices. While it’s designed to fit a MagSafe connection (though the early prototype I saw was slightly undersized), it can also connect to any non-Auracast product via USB-C or 3.5mm cable, granting those devices Auracast capabilities. Atitan has indicated that future versions will support wireless pairing, enabling classic Bluetooth connections to be converted into Bluetooth LE Auracast transmissions.

You can connect the splitR to a speaker to stream content from your phone or an Auracast-enabled TV, or even link it to your turntable setup to broadcast Auracast audio to headphones or speakers. With multiple splitR transceivers, you could establish a comprehensive whole-home Auracast system. Unlike some Auracast-compatible devices that limit functionality to their own ecosystem, the splitR broadcasts are accessible to any Auracast headphones or speakers that can receive them.

My demo at CES was promising. Beyond simply sharing music with friends, Auracast has the potential to assist those who need hearing support, whether at concerts, airports, churches, lectures, or even while watching TV at home. The more Auracast technology is integrated into products—either natively or through adapters like the splitR—the more its accessibility features can become mainstream.

While other Auracast transmitters I’ve tested can be cumbersome, Atitan is focused on creating a user-friendly product that consolidates all your services and devices into one app. They plan to launch a Kickstarter campaign for the splitR transceiver in the coming months and currently have a waitlist for the connectR app.