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As long as I know an iOS device can communicate with BT device if BT device is MFI compliant. But some of my friends says apple no-longer support BT devices after the introduction of BLE devices. What my understanding is an iOS device can communicate with BT device using External Accessory Framework if BT device is MFI compliant? Searched a lot and couldn't find any useful documentation from apple. Any help is greatly appreciated

Ab'initio
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    iPhone supports BLE and other BT devices if they are MFi complaint. – Ram Aug 05 '14 at 10:18
  • @Ram Thanks a lot for your reply. Apple guideline for BT talks more about audio devices (https://developer.apple.com/hardwaredrivers/bluetoothdesignguidelines.pdf). Can I communicate BT device other than audio BT device? – Ab'initio Aug 05 '14 at 10:45

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You can connect to Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) aka Bluetooth Smart or Bluetooth 4.0 devices using the Core Bluetooth framework. BLE devices are specifically excluded from the MFI program.

Bluetooth 2.1 devices are covered by the external accessory framework and require membership of the MFI program in order for the device to be certified by Apple.

There are a couple of exceptions to this - some standard profiles such as headset, hands free, audio streaming and keyboards are supported without the device bing MFI certified, but you don't interact with these devices at the Bluetooth level - audio devices are managed through the AV framework and keyboards just send their input to text controls in the same way as the onscreen keyboard

Paulw11
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  • Thanks a lot for your reply. Apple guideline for BT talks more about audio devices (https://developer.apple.com/hardwaredrivers/bluetoothdesignguidelines.pdf). Can I communicate BT device other than audio BT device? – Ab'initio Aug 05 '14 at 10:45
  • Are you talking about under MFI or BLE? The answer is yes in both cases but the technique is different – Paulw11 Aug 05 '14 at 11:13