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Does the latest iphone or Ipad support older bluetooth versions? I say latest, but I mean the ones phones/ipads currently supported by Apple. And if so are there any guidance tutorials going around that may help. The bluetooth version I'm trying to work with is V2.0.
Yes, backwards compatibility is expected. But some combinations probably won’t work.
Bluetooth is more hardware and firmware than software; hardware and firmware usually part of the wireless networking and Wi-Fi networking chip.
Your external app or device or whatever would present whatever Bluetooth standard it presents, and the two ends negotiate.
Newer Bluetooth chips and newer Bluetooth versions are intended to be backward compatible with older devices.
Bluetooth 2.0 is from ~2004 or so.
You mention “trying to work with”, and targeted the question for other third-party app developers working with Apple platforms. Please elaborate a little on the issue or limit or problems here, and on the general goals. Are you working on an app? Trying to get some old audio device working? Something needing EDR?
Here is the usual path to Bluetooth devices: https://developer.apple.com/bluetooth/
Apple does not have particularly good Bluetooth diagnostics or troubleshooting tools for recent macOS versions, unfortunately. And the old Bluetooth Explorer tool hasn’t been updated and has been removed. And ~none are accessible in iPhone and iPad.
Hello AppleONaRiver,
Thanks for posting in Apple Support Communities. We understand that you have questions about older Bluetooth devices and their compatibility with newer iPhones.
Backwards compatibility of Bluetooth on newer iOS devices may depend on the accessory itself. You may need to reach out to the manufacturer for confirmation. We also recommend the steps in the following support article: If you can't connect a Bluetooth accessory to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
Cheers!
There’s a built-in GPS and altimeter in semi-recent iPhone, and semi-recent cellular-capable iPad.
I’ve linked to the Bluetooth docs.
I’ll leave you to determine if there’s a matching Bluetooth profile for the GPS and the altimeter, but I’d suspect not.
You’re headed for the MFi program here: https://mfi.apple.com/
For connections to USB: Lightning to USB Camera Adapter - Apple
Given what you’re seeking to interface with is built into many iPhone and iPad devices, seemingly less than necessary, too. An underwater altimeter—bottom-mapping sonar or otherwise—not so much. I’d also not expect GPS signals to propagate underwater, so I’m not sure where this is headed. Other than probably to MFi access.
Nah mate, you are way off track. Thanks for the help anyway.
I could I have sworn I tagged this question as developer. Hmmm. Let's try this. What if I want to be the manufacturer of the device? How would I go about programming the Xcode swift to interface V2.0 bluetooth devices? How exactly would I set up the device from Apples stand point? Surely there is a protocol that Apple uses for bluetooth devices V2.0 that must be adhered to? Where would the guidance for that be?
Thanks for the reply. Let's see where do I begin. I come from a Windows user background. In the industry I work it's all Windows based. The main reason for that is Windows is a lot cheaper well or so I thought. Right now I'm thinking the support for external devices for IOS seems to be a little lack luster. Anyway let's just say I have a fair bit of knowledge around Csharp and electronics and I like the fact that Mac is very reliable. So I'm trying to build an App and maybe introduce my world to the wonderfulness of Apple. I've since acquired a Mac book pro M1 pro 21 jigga watt. M1 Pro..Very nice machine and I'm learning Xcode Swift language to try and put an app on my phone /iPad which will take in data from a Trimble GPS and basically an underwater altimeter. I want to log the data that's coming in and have it viewed on a map. Apple /Tom Tom maps should work fine. Long and lat are coming from the GPS. The GPS is Trimble v2.1 bluetooth long range. I have not talked to Trimble about their GPS yet, but the GPS does also output an RS232 signal that there is an adapter out there for BLE. I'd rather interface it direct to the v2.1 bluetooth though. The other part (the altimeter) has a Parani SD1000 RS232 to bluetooth adapter. I did send an email to the Parani manufacturer, but I think I got nobody really helpful. I was hoping to interface with this RS232 Parani with my iPhone/Ipad direct, but it only supports SPP according to the manufacturer and IOS does not support SPP, but looking into it what Parani people didn't tell me is that there is a USB to bluetooth Parani which has Mac support, so I'm thinking maybe I can use the lightning port on my iPad with it (lightning to USB parani). But again this goes back to Apple, How would I interface the lightning port to a USB Parani. Where are the protocols for accessory interface. From what I'm learning I have to be part of an MFI program for external accessories, but there doesn't seem to be much on it. And I don't really wish to spend out 99 dollars a year if I can't get anywhere with it. I'm also looking at Texas Instruments bluetooth circuit just to build my own lightning to bluetooth adapter. And an RS232 one for the other side. The thing is I need long range bluetooth. So I guess my main question now would be how would I go about making a lightning to bluetooth long range adapter both classic and BLE. It's proving to be quite a challenge the more I read into it. There's supposedly a chip in the lightning cable, but I don't see the pinout. I'm hoping the lightning chip has uart or maybe SPI interface. But I can't find any PDF on it. And even if I do I don't think I'll be able to find the protocol on it.
George
iphone bluetooth versions supported?
