The Latest Bluetooth SIG Qualification Process is Official – Here’s What You Need to Know

Updated Process for a Modern Design Pipeline

For any OEM looking to sell Bluetooth designs with the designated Bluetooth mark, it’s necessary to secure a design qualification from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). Bluetooth Qualification has a purpose: to strengthen interoperability between Bluetooth devices, to subsequently strengthen the Bluetooth brand, and to strengthen the brands of SIG members by extension. Bluetooth devices that work better with other devices means that those devices work as customers expect, a rising tide that raises all boats in the Bluetooth space.

The Bluetooth Qualification Program has for years outlined the Bluetooth Qualification Process with a supporting document called the Qualification Program Reference Document (QPRD). Since May 1 of 2014, QPRD v2.3 spelled out the process by which OEMs could submit their designs and supporting documentation for approval by the Bluetooth SIG. This process held for a full decade. 

However, a need to streamline the process, simplify the requirements, and consolidate and align process documentation and terminology led the SIG to publish QPRD v3 on June 11 of 2024. As of July 1, 2024, this new QPRD and its component processes have taken effect as the new requirements for OEMs seeking Bluetooth Qualification. 

In this post, we’ll look at some of the key changes in the QPRD v3, many of which are designed to simplify the qualification process for most OEMs. 

What’s Changing – And What Isn’t

There are a few things OEMs who have gone through the process may want to know up front. For one, products that have already completed the qualification process will not be impacted by this change. This is only applicable to new qualifications going forward.   Additionally, qualification fees have not changed, except for a change in name – what was formerly known as the Declaration Fee is now known as the Product Qualification Fee. 

Other changes include that the number associated with qualified designs, formerly known as the Qualified Design ID (QDID), is now known as a Design Number (DN). Additionally, former Product Types are no longer supported. Design submissions now have a concept of “Core Configurations” which classify the type of product by its layers, and subsequently determine the test requirements needed to complete the qualification process for that product. This matrix of configurations is designed to make it clearer what OEMs will need to test to for each allowable combination, and to eliminate extraneous information not relevant to the qualification.  

Steps to Qualify a Design with QPRD v3

The new steps for qualifying a design are as follows: 

1. Provide Product Details: This initial definition includes a product’s name, description, model number, product publication date, optional product website link and whether the product may be visible to other users in the same member org before publication. Importantly, this information must match the marketing and advertising that members use for this product in the course of selling the product. 
2. Specify the Design: This may be either an existing design with a DN, QDID, or DID (as long as that design has not been modified), or a new design (either composed of multiple existing designs or an entirely new design). In this process, the Bluetooth SIG tool will specify any required tests based on the ICS forms completed and the test case reference list (TCRL) applied. Submissions based on a single approved design without modification should result in no new testing requirement, while a new combination of designs may necessitate new testing. Typically this is only the case if a layer has been modified or the new design includes X2Core Layers (old Profiles and/or Services). In QPRD v3, this is streamlined as much as possible to present submitters with only the test requirements relevant to their design.  At this stage, members must complete tests per test case and must secure a passing verdict for each, except in cases where an inconclusive verdict is acceptable according to the test suite. 
3. Pay an administrative fee: All members must pay an administrative fee to advance the qualification process. Fees and membership dues vary based on the size of the member organization.
4. Submission: When all tests are passed, members use the Bluetooth SIG online tool to upload and submit all required test results, declarations, and attestations. These serve to demonstrate compliance as well as to legally bind the member and the Bluetooth SIG with all policies and agreements required. The resulting documentation must be kept on file by all members up to a year after the product is no longer for sale. Members must be able to furnish this documentation for this entire time for inspection by the Bluetooth SIG. 
5. Verification: Finally, the Bluetooth SIG verifies the results. Most reviews are completed within one business day, with some exceptions. The Bluetooth SIG evaluates the listing to be sure that any remaining inconsistencies are covered by a test coverage waiver, to verify the authenticities of provided test reports, and to make sure the product matches the core configuration specified. If accepted, the product is listed as a qualified product. A submission may be rejected for a number of reasons, including an unaccepted test case waiver, incorrect test reports, an incorrect core configuration, and more. 

For more information on QPRD v3, please see the QPRD webinar provided by the Bluetooth SIG. (Please note: this content is restricted to Bluetooth SIG members.)

Now Effective as of July 1, 2024

The new qualification process is currently underway, with over a thousand products successfully qualified in just the first two weeks. The Bluetooth SIG has lots of documentation, articles, and support resources for companies looking to complete qualification for their new designs. And for those leveraging existing qualified products into their designs (like Ezurio’s line of Bluetooth modules), the most significant change is just the change from Qualified Design ID (QDID) to Design Number (DN). 

As always, Ezurio is ready to help with your integration and your qualification of your design. Ezurio has been designing Bluetooth modules since the beginning of Bluetooth, and we have a track record of dozens of design s to show for it. Ezurio is your connectivity expert, singularly focused on delivering our expertise into your product designs, preparing you for every phase of the wireless design process, and helping accelerate your designs to market. 

To learn more about our portfolio of Bluetooth modules, visit our website: 

https://www.ezurio.com/wireless-modules/bluetooth-modules