From Silicon Labs: Deprecation and withdrawal schedules of Bluetooth Core specifications v4.1 to v2.1: Bluetooth qualification and availability of Silicon Labs modules
About Symmetry Electronics Team
Established in 1998, Symmetry Electronics is a focused global distributor of wireless connectivity solutions, sensors, and audio-video technologies. Offering comprehensive design support and available-to-ship inventory, Symmetry is committed to helping engineers accelerate time to market, reduce costs, and offer modern solutions for their IoT designs. Acquired by Berkshire Hathaway company, TTI, Inc. in 2017, Symmetry Electronics is part of the Exponential Technology Group (XTG) – a supergroup of electronic component distributors and engineering services firms working together to advance the electronics industry. For more information, visit www.symmetryelectronics.com.
Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has sent out Deprecated and Withdrawal notices for Bluetooth core specification version v4.1 and all earlier versions down to v2.1. In practice it means that the products, using Silicon Labs modules, which use v4.1 or earlier version, need to be Qualified and Declared at the latest by the withdrawal date of the specific version. Yet, despite the deprecated status of the Core specification versions v2.1 to v4.1, Silicon Lab’s modules are already fully Bluetooth SIG tested, listed and qualified as ‘End Products’ or ‘Controller’ subsystems, which means that the modules are valid as such for Bluetooth products and Silicon Labs customers do not need to perform additional testing when using the modules to Bluetooth SIG qualify their end product designs. The withdrawal date also does not impact Silicon Labs capability to manufacture and supply the modules for customers also after the withdrawal.
Table 1. shows the withdrawal dates for the core specifications and corresponding Silicon Labs module products.
Bluetooth Core specification version | Withdrawal schedule | Impacted Silicon Labs parts |
Bluetooth v2.1 and v3.0 | Withdrawal date July 1st 2020 | WT11, WT11u, WT12, WT32, WT32i, WT41, WT41u and all variations of their Orderable Part Numbers
|
Before withdrawal date, customers can still list and qualify using Silicon Labs modules with no additional testing. | ||
After July 1st 2020, the specification will be completely withdrawn and no new Bluetooth end product listings will be possible. | ||
Bluetooth 4.0 | Withdrawal date February 1st 2022 | BLE112, BLE113, BLE121LR, BLED112, BT111 and all variations of their Orderable Part Numbers
|
Before withdrawal date, customers can still list and qualify using Silicon Labs modules with no additional testing. | ||
After February 1st 2022, the specification will be completely withdrawn and no new Bluetooth end product listings will be possible. | ||
Bluetooth 4.1 | Withdrawal date February 1st 2023 | BT121 and and all variations of its Orderable Part Numbers
|
Before withdrawal date, customers can still list and certify using the Silicon Labs modules with no additional testing. | ||
After February 1st 2023, the specification will be completely withdrawn and no new Bluetooth end product listings will be possible | ||
Bluetooth v4.2 to v5.1 | are still Active, no deprecation or withdrawal date has been released. Silicon Labs BGMxx products meets these standards and are recommended for new designs. | |
Table 1. Silicon Labs Bluetooth modules using BT Core specification versions v2.1 – v4.1
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About Symmetry Electronics Team
Established in 1998, Symmetry Electronics is a focused global distributor of wireless connectivity solutions, sensors, and audio-video technologies. Offering comprehensive design support and available-to-ship inventory, Symmetry is committed to helping engineers accelerate time to market, reduce costs, and offer modern solutions for their IoT designs. Acquired by Berkshire Hathaway company, TTI, Inc. in 2017, Symmetry Electronics is part of the Exponential Technology Group (XTG) – a supergroup of electronic component distributors and engineering services firms working together to advance the electronics industry. For more information, visit www.symmetryelectronics.com.