Small software developers: the Bluetooth SIG wants you

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 06 May 2008 02:20

Business IT - Technology

The Bluetooth SIG (special interest group) which oversees the short range wireless communications technology is reducing the entry barriers for small software developers wanting to create bluetooth applications promising them "significant cost savings in their earliest attempts to be competitive in the Bluetooth technology market."

Michael Foley, executive director, the Bluetooth SIG said: "The Bluetooth technology product market is growing so rapidly and small entrepreneurial businesses want to be a part of that. By creating this incentive program everyone wins: we increase competition which gives more choices to the consumer, and we improve the overall quality and interoperability of products making their way to market.

"By giving these companies a lower cost entry point to the market, small businesses are able to ensure quality while also gaining access to the growing demand for Bluetooth technology products. Additionally, the program benefits the Bluetooth market at large by reducing the number of unqualified products making their way to store shelves."

The incentive program will provide a one- time discount on qualification related fees to those who meet the SIG's small business designation criteria. To participate companies must prove that they have a paid-in capital of $US2.4 million or less and that their revenue from the most recent financial year does not exceed $US3 million.

Program participants receive two listings on the Qualified Design Listings (QDL) and a one-year license to use the Bluetooth Profile Tuning Suite (PTS) for a pre-payment of $USS2,500, a saving of $US15,000 in costs associated with processes required for intellectual property and trademark license. The programme is available to companies worldwide.