History of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group

2015

• Apple joins the Bluetooth SIG as Promoter member
• SIG announces the beta launch of the Bluetooth Developer Studio​
• Fitbit, Google, Under Armour and Lowe's Home Improvement join Bluetooth World as keynote speakers
• SIG announces the formation of the Smart Mesh Working Group
• Membership at the Bluetooth SIG hits 26,000 members

2014

• SIG introduces Bluetooth 4.2​, adds features for IP connectivity, privacy and speed
• Membership at the Bluetooth SIG hits 24,000 members
• CNET Joins the Breakthrough Awards as exclusive media partner
• The SIG expands Bluetooth World to three global event series
• Dr. Kamil A. Grajski, Qualcomm, joins the SIG Board of Directors
• Bluetooth hits 90 percent penetration in all mobile phones

2013

• SIG rolls out Bluetooth 4.1, sets the stage for IoT
• SIG introduces Application Accelerator for developers
• Google announced native support for Bluetooth Smart in Android
• Minsoo Lee, LG Electronics, joins the SIG Board of Directors
• Annual Bluetooth^® product shipments surpass 2.5 billion*
• SIG membership surpasses 20,000 companies
• The SIG launches Bluetooth World

2012

• Annual Bluetooth product shipments surpass 2 billion*
• SIG membership surpasses 17,000 companies
• The SIG launches new resources for app developers 
• The first Bluetooth Smart Ready tablets and music players hit the market.
• SIG Board appoints wireless veteran Mark Powell, as executive director.
• The SIG announces expansion into sports & fitness markets with new working group and new profiles for real-time running and cycling data monitoring
• Dr. Steven Gray joins the SIG Board of Directors

2011

• SIG membership surpasses 15,000 companies
• The SIG picks a 3D television for itsBest of CES award winner
• Apple and Nordic Semiconductor join the SIG Board of Directors
• The SIG adopts the first new profile for Bluetooth v4.0 in May
• Apple releases the first two computers (MacMini and MacBook Air) with Bluetooth v4.0 technology in July
• The SIG unveils the Bluetooth Smart and Bluetooth Smart Ready brand extensions
• Microsoft announces that Windows 8 will support Bluetooth v4.0
• Apple announces that the new iPhone 4S will support Bluetooth v4.0 and become the first Bluetooth Smart Ready phone
• The SIG adopts 29 new Bluetooth v4.0 profiles, services, protocols and prototyping specifications, creating the infrastructure for Bluetooth Smart devices

2010

• SIG membership surpasses 13,000 companies
• The Bluetooth SIG headquarters moves to Kirkland, WA, USA
• The Bluetooth SIG announces the formal adoption of Bluetooth Core Specification Version 4.0  with low energy technology
• Profile Tuning Suite (PTS)  v4.1 is launched, including Bluetooth low energy technology test suites

2009

• The SIG adopts Core Specification Version 3.0 HS, making Bluetooth high speed technology a reality
• The SIG welcomes its 12,000th member
• The SIG announces the adoption of Bluetooth low energy wireless technology, the hallmark feature in Bluetooth Core Specification Version 4.0

2008

• The SIG celebrates its 10^th anniversary
• Nearly 2 billion Bluetooth enabled products shipped in 10 years
• The SIG welcomes its 10,000^th member
• Bluetooth SIG Executive Director Mike Foley is named one of RCR Wireless News Mobile Movers & Shakers for 2008
• Profile Tuning Suite (PTS) Version 3.0 is released, including automatic updates and further improvements to its report generation capabilities

2007

• First alarm-clock radio
• First television
• The SIG welcomes its 8,000^th member
• Bluetooth SIG Executive Director Mike Foley wins the Telematics Leadership Award
• PTS Protocol Viewer is released as part of the release of PTS Version 2.1.1 along with a greatly updated user interface and report generation capabilities

2006

• First sunglasses
• First watch
• First picture frame
• Bluetooth wireless reaches an installed base of 1 billion devices
• Bluetooth enabled devices ship at a rate of 10 million per week
• Profile Tuning Suite (PTS)  testing becomes a mandatory part of the Bluetooth product qualification process 
• The SIG announces it will integrate Bluetooth technology with the WiMedia Alliance version of UWB

2005

• Product shipments soar to 5 million chipsets per week
• The SIG welcomes its 4,000^th member
• SIG Headquarters opens in Bellevue, WA; regional offices open in Malmo, Sweden and Hong Kong
• The SIG launches Profile Testing Suite (PTS)  v1.0, a testing and qualification tool for members developed completely in-house

2004

• The SIG adopts Core Specification Version 2.0 Enhanced Data Rate (EDR)
• Bluetooth technology reaches an installed base of 250 million devices
• Product-shipment rate surpasses 3 million per week
• First stereo headphones

2003

• First MP3 player with  Bluetooth technology
• Bluetooth Core Specification Version 1.2 adopted by the Bluetooth SIG
• Bluetooth product shipments grow to 1 million per week
• First FDA-approved Bluetooth medical system

2002

• First keyboard and mouse combo
• First GPS receiver
• Bluetooth wireless qualified products hits 500
• IEEE approves the 802.15.1 specification to conform with Bluetooth wireless technology
• First digital camera

2001

• First printer
• First laptop
• First hands-free car kit
• First hands-free car kit with speech recognition
• The Bluetooth SIG, Inc. is formed as a not-for-profit, non-stock corporation

2000

• First mobile phone with  Bluetooth technology comes to market
• First PC card
• Prototype mouse and laptop demonstrated at CeBIT 2000
• Prototype USB dongle shown at COMDEX
• First chip to integrate radio frequency, baseband, microprocessor functions and Bluetooth wireless software
• First headset is shipped

1999

• The Bluetooth 1.0 Specification is released
• The Bluetooth SIG hosts the first UnPlugFest for member engineers
• Bluetooth technology is awarded "Best of Show Technology Award" at COMDEX

1998

• The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) is formed with five companies
• The Bluetooth SIG welcomes its 400^th member by the end of the year
• The name Bluetooth is officially adopted

*ABI Research​