Hello:
I have plans to develop a consumer-oriented wearable device
that will communicate with and be controlled by an iOS app. Therefore
I need to make sure that the Bluetooth module I select for inclusion
within my device will conform to Apple’s requirements.
My device will be battery powered, and thus needs to use low
power components, so I intend to use only the Low Energy (LE) portion of the
Bluetooth stack. Therefore the device
will be designed to communicate with an iOS app running on any Bluetooth 4.0 capable
Apple device (e.g., iPhone 4s, etc.).
Some questions:
First, is it the case that if I implement only the Low
Energy portion of Bluetooth, that I will not need to participate in Apple’s MFI
program? And also is it the case that my
device will not have to include the Apple Bluetooth authentication chip?
Can you give me a list of the Bluetooth features/capabilities
that my device will have to support?
Please note that my device would likely fit under the category of “Health/Fitness”
devices, and will not carry any media/voice/video,
etc., It will only transmit small
amounts of usage data to the iOS device (maybe at 5Hz or 10Hz rate?). The
iOS device would transmit configuration data to the device on a sporadic basis
(i.e., when the user makes changes within the iOS app).
I assume you’re not in the business of referring Bluetooth
manufacturers/components, etc., but if you could, I’m all ears!
Any information/links/examples that more closely match what
I’m trying to do would be most helpful.
Thanks!