Bluetooth®

Bluetooth® SIG Certification

Quality seal for Bluetooth® device compatibility

The manufacturer can officially use Bluetooth® technology and the associated Bluetooth® trademark, which is a quality mark for the worldwide compatibility of Bluetooth® devices, only with a successful Bluetooth® SIG certification. With our labs in Saarbruecken (Germany) and Anyang (Korea), which are both officially accredited Bluetooth® Qualification Test Facilities (BQTF) with recognized Bluetooth® Qualification Consultants (BQC), we at cetecom advanced provide a wide range of testing services.

Bluetooth® SIG Qualification Program

Business Man with Bluetooth Headphone and Smartphone

A device with Bluetooth® technology must undergo testing in accordance with the Bluetooth® SIG Qualification Program, in order qualify as a licensed product bearing the Bluetooth® trademark and to be permitted to use the Bluetooth® logo.

Despite the fact that a process of self-qualification is allowed, working with a BQC helps to avoid potential errors during Bluetooth® qualification. When submitting their products for approval, manufacturers also receive helpful assistance.

As a BQTF, we offer the following Bluetooth® qualification services to our customers:

  • RF/RF PHY conformance test for BT Core 5.4
  • Profile interoperability testing using the Bluetooth® SIG’s PTS
    (Profile Tuning Suite) test system
  • Product-to-product interoperability testing

The paths to Bluetooth® SIG certification

The Bluetooth® SIG currently offers manufacturers two different paths to Bluetooth® SIG certification.

Path 1: Qualification process without additional testing

  • Using an already qualified Bluetooth® end product or subsystem from another member organization
    in your product without changing or adding Bluetooth® features
  • Purchasing a third party product and distributing it with your organization’s name or logo (white label solution)
  • Combining only qualified Bluetooth® subsystem products and/or qualified Bluetooth® end products,
    provided that no design changes were made during the combination process

Path 2: Qualification process with additional testing

  • Creating products or combinations that affect more than just qualified Bluetooth® subsystem products and/or qualified Bluetooth® products
  • Making modifications to an already qualified Bluetooth® design if they have a direct impact on core configuration or functionality
  • Qualifying a design based on a type of component product that is already qualified Bluetooth®

It is important to note that only so-called “Bluetooth Qualification Test Facilities” (BQTF) are permitted
to carry out official tests in accordance with the specifications of the Bluetooth® SIG.

You can find all of the officially listed Bluetooth® Qualification Test Facilities here.

 

Current Bluetooth Qualification Testing Facilities:

For Saarbruecken:

Authorized Test Scope RF:1, RFPHY:2
Facility Name CTC advanced GmbH
Address Untertuerkheimerstr 6-10,
66117 Saarbrücken
Economy Germany
Contact joerg.warken@ctcadvanced.com
Rec. Expiry Date 11/27/2023

 

For Anyang:

Authorized Test Scope RF:1, RFPHY:2,
Traditional Profiles and Protocols,
GATT-Based Profiles & Services
Facility Name CETECOM Limited
Address RN. 219, Dusanventuredigm,
415, Heungan-daero, Dongan-gu,
Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do,
14059, South Korea
Economy South Korea
Contact michael.jang@cetecom.com
Rec. Expiry Date 11/8/2023

 

The acceptance of the tests and the resulting approval in accordance with the Bluetooth® guidelines can only be carried out by a certified “Bluetooth® Qualification Consultant”. Only after successful completion of all tests, the Bluetooth® logo may be applied to the products in order to market them accordingly.

FAQ regarding Bluetooth® SIG certification

What are the benefits of a Bluetooth® certification?

The Bluetooth® certification of a product demonstrates that this product complies with all specifications of Bluetooth® technology and is capable of establishing appropriate connections with other Bluetooth®-enabled devices. This means that business and private customers can rely on the compatibility / interoperability of their own products / systems with all other products that have successfully passed a Bluetooth® SIG qualification.

Is a Bluetooth® SIG certification mandatory?

Yes. If manufacturers want to market a product that incorporates Bluetooth® technology, it is mandatory to qualify and list this product with the Bluetooth® Special Interest Group (SIG). After successful qualification, products including the Bluetooth® logo can be marketed accordingly. Without a Bluetooth® SIG qualification or other violations of labeling requirements, there is a risk of legal consequences.

By when should the Bluetooth®-certification be finished?

Proper qualification of products in accordance with the Bluetooth® SIG licensing regulations is a mandatory prerequisite for marketing the products. Thus, the certification must be done at the latest by the day the products are placed on the market.

The correct listing of the product can be verified via the Bluetooth® database.

What are the costs for a Bluetooth® qualification?

In order to be allowed to label and sell a product with the Bluetooth® logo, a company must be a member of the Bluetooth® SIG. Depending on the type of Bluetooth® SIG membership, there are different models of qualification fees:

Cost models membership (annual)

  • Adopter: free membership
  • Associate (Small): 9.000 $ (as of January 2024: 10.350 $)
  • Associate (Large): 42.000 $ (as of January 2024: 48.300 $)

Cost models declaration

  • Adopter: 9.600 $ per certification (as of January 2024: 11.040 $ per certification)
  • Associate: 4.800 $ per certification (as of January 2024: 5.520 $ per certification)

Test facility cost models (annual)

  • BQTF (Qualification Test Facility): 9.600 $ (as of January 2024: 11.040 $)
  • BRTF (Recognized Test Facility): 2.400 $ (as of January 2024: 2.760 $)
  • BQC (Qualification Consultant) examination fee: 720 $ (as of January 2024: 828 $)

Only after receipt of payment and successful Bluetooth® SIG certification a declaration ID will be issued. This is stored online by the SIG and is used to verify correctly declared Bluetooth® products. For economic operators who distribute the products of other companies without modifications, there is no obligation to become a member.

Using the Bluetooth®-Logo correctly – what needs to be considered?

To ensure that a product is legally safe and correctly marked with the Bluetooth® trademark or logo, three criteria must be met:

  1. The company must be a member of the Bluetooth® SIG.
  2. The product must successfully pass the Bluetooth® Qualification Process.
  3. The product, its packaging and all associated promotional products must comply with the Bluetooth® Branding Guidelines.

Detailed information on branding and the correct display / placement of the Bluetooth® logo
can be found on the Bluetooth® SIG marketing page.

News on all aspects of Bluetooth® devices

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