What is Bluetooth?
Essentially, Bluetooth is a short-range radio technology utilizing the 2.40-2.45 GHz ISM band. The major players include Eric sson, IBM, Intel, Lucent, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia, and Toshiba.
Bluetooth borrowed its name from the 10th century Scandinavian king, King Harold 'Bluetooth'. He believed that the best defense from enemies for his numerous scattered villages relied upon good communication amongst the villages.
What is involved in getting Bluetooth approval?
There are two processes that must be completed in order to use the Bluetooth technology. One is the Qualification process and the other is the Regulatory Approval process.
The Regulatory Approval process involves obtaining FCC, IC, or R&TTE approvals. It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to obtain these governmental approvals for whatever intended market area. As an example, for the United States , the Bluetooth product must comply with FCC CFR 47 Parts 2 and 15, Subpart C for Intentional Low Power Radiators.
The Qualification process is a little more involved and typically consists of the following steps:
- Conformance testing of protocols
- Interoperability tests
- Compliance declarations
- Documentation review
- Approval and listing by a Bluetooth Qualification Body (BQB)
A Bluetooth Qualification Test Facility (BQTF) must perform the required conformance tests using validated test systems. The BQB checks the BQTF test report, the manufacturer's test report, the manufacturer's declarations and documents before granting approval.
How can Garwood be of assistance?
Garwood Laboratories has the RF equipment to properly test RF products as well as many years of experience in RF testing. Garwood also has the experience in dealing with agency certifications. So, we can perform the regulatory portion of the approval process for you.
For the Qualification portion of the process, we have a cooperative working arrangement with 7Layers located in Irvine , CA to do this portion. They are a Bluetooth Qualification Body as well as a Bluetooth Qualification Test Facility. With this arrangement, we can expedite the qualification process for you.
Click on Logo for an Additional Link about Bluetooth Technology |
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The Bluetooth Special Interest Group is an industry group consisting of leaders in the telecommunications, computing, and networking industries that are driving development of the technology and bringing it to market. |
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