Bluetooth Special Interest Group

Bluetooth technology provides a way to exchange information between wireless devices such as PDAs, laptops, computers, printers and digital cameras via a secure, low-cost, globally available short-range radio frequency band.

In 2016, the SIG introduced a new visual and creative identity to support Bluetooth technology as the catalyst for the Internet of Things (IoT).

[1] At its inception in 1998, the Bluetooth SIG was primarily run by a staff effectively seconded from its member companies.

In addition to its professional staff, the SIG is supported by its more than 40,000 member companies who participate in the various working groups that produce the standardization documents and oversee the qualification process for new products and help to evangelize the technology.

The committees of the SIG deal with the other aspects of licensing, marketing and review including developing and maintaining the Qualification Process, oversight of the Bluetooth specifications, and developing, improving and maintaining the test methodology and concepts as well as other strategic functions.

These members are the most active in the SIG and have considerable influence over both the strategic and technological directions of Bluetooth as a whole.

Associate membership is renewed annually and the yearly fee depends on the individual company's revenue.

Small Associates are categorized as those organizations with revenue less than $100M US and join the SIG with an annual membership fee of $9,000 US.

Associate members of the SIG get early access to draft specifications at versions 0.5 and 0.7 and are eligible to participate and gain a voting seat in working groups and committees—a key opportunity to work with other Associate and Promoter members on enhancing existing specifications.

Adopter members do not have early access to unpublished specifications and may not participate in working groups or committees to influence the development of the technology.

[6] The primary objective of the qualification process is for members to demonstrate their product(s) compliance to the adopted specifications through testing and documentation.