Summary
This article briefly discussed general concepts of qualification and the rationale for instituting qualification programs. Within the SIG, the Bluetooth qualification program (BQP) is designed to verify that products conform to the Bluetooth specification and to foster product interoperability.
Our book, Bluetooth Revealed, includes a more detailed discussion of the BQP in its second edition. In addition to the overview presented here, the book explores other interoperability considerations in more depth and also examines the various parties and processes involved in the BQP in more detail. Among these are the following:
The Bluetooth Qualification Review Board (BQRB): The committee of the SIG responsible for setting policy and overseeing all aspects of the BQP.
The Bluetooth Qualification Administrator (BQA): The BQRB's agent who actually manages the day-to-day operations of the BQP.
The Bluetooth Qualification Body (BQB): A person authorized by the SIG to work with product manufacturers to assist them throughout the qualification process. (There are several BQBs located throughout the world.)
The Bluetooth Qualification Test Facility (BQTF): An organization authorized by the SIG to perform the Bluetooth qualification tests on products. (It is expected that there will be several BQTFs by 2002.)