Profiles make Bluetooth technology interoperable
Profiles are definitions of possible applications and specify general behaviors that Bluetooth® enabled devices use to communicate with other Bluetooth devices. Profiles build on the Bluetooth standard to more clearly define what kind of data a Bluetooth module is transmitting. The device’s application determines which profiles it must support, from hands-free capabilities to heart rate sensors to alerts and more.
For two Bluetooth® devices to be compatible, they must support the same profiles. And while profiles generally describe the same use case behaviors, they are different for Bluetooth BR/EDR and Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) implementations. Compatibility between Bluetooth BR/EDR and Bluetooth LE implementations requires a dual-mode controller on at least one. For BR/EDR, a wide range of adopted Bluetooth profiles describe many different, commonly used types of applications or use cases for devices. For Bluetooth LE, developers can use a comprehensive set of adopted profiles, or they can use Generic Attribute Profile (GATT) to create new profiles. This flexibility helps support innovative new applications that maintain interoperability with other Bluetooth devices.
Bluetooth profiles typically contain information such as dependencies on other profiles and suggested user interface formats. For BR/EDR, the profile will also specify the particular options and parameters at each layer of the Bluetooth protocol stack used to perform its task. This may include, if appropriate, an outline of the required service record.
The documents in the “Informative document showing changes” column are provided as a courtesy to help readers identify changes between two versions of a Bluetooth specification.
Specification | Version | Status | Adoption Date | Informative document showing changes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
3DSP | 3D Synchronization Profile | 1.0.3 | Active | 15 Dec 2015 | N/A |
A2DP | Advanced Audio Distribution Profile | 1.3.2 | Active | 21 Jan 2019 | A2DP_1.3.2_showing_changes_from_A2DP_1.3.1 |
AVRCP | A/V Remote Control Profile | 1.6.2 | Active | 21 Jan 2019 | AVRCP_1.6.2_showing_changes_from_AVRCP_1.6.1 |
BIP | Basic Imaging Profile | 1.2.1 | Active | 21 Jan 2019 | BIP_1.2.1_showing_changes_from_BIP_1.2.0 |
BPP | Basic Printing Profile | 1.2 | Active | 27 Apr 2006 | N/A |
CTN | Calendar Tasks and Notes Profile | 1.0.1 | Active | 21 Jan 2019 | CTN_1.0.1_showing_changes_from_CTN_1.0.0 |
DI | Device ID Profile | 1.3 | Active | 26 Mar 2007 | N/A |
DUN | Dial-Up Networking Profile | 1.2 | Active | 06 Nov 2012 | N/A |
FTP | File Transfer Profile | 1.3.1 | Active | 15 Dec 2015 | N/A |
GAVDP | Generic A/V Distribution Profile | 1.3 | Active | 24 Jul 2012 | N/A |
GNSS | Global Navigation Satellite System Profile | 1.0 | Active | 13 Mar 2012 | N/A |
GOEP | Generic Object Exchange Profile | 2.1.1 | Active | 15 Dec 2015 | N/A |
GPP | Generic PIM Profile | 1.0.1 | Active | 15 Dec 2015 | N/A |
HCRP | Hardcopy Cable Replacement Profile | 1.2 | Active | 27 Apr 2006 | N/A |
HDP | Health Device Profile | 1.1 | Active | 24 Jul 2012 | N/A |
HFP | Hands-Free Profile | 1.8 | Active | 14 Apr 2020 | HFP_1.8_showing_changes_from_HFP_1.7.2 |
HID | Human Interface Device Profile | 1.1.1 | Active | 15 Dec 2015 | N/A |
HSP | Headset Profile | 1.2 | Active | 18 Dec 2008 | N/A |
MAP | Message Access Profile | 1.4.2 | Active | 13 Aug 2019 | MAP_1.4.2_showing_changes_from_MAP_1.4.1 |
MPS | Multi Profile Specification | 1.0 | Active | 02 Jul 2013 | N/A |
OPP | Object Push Profile | 1.2.1 | Active | 15 Dec 2015 | N/A |
PAN | Personal Area Networking Profile | 1.0 | Active | 20 Feb 2003 | N/A |
PBAP | Phone Book Access Profile | 1.2.3 | Active | 21 Jan 2019 | PBAP_1.2.3_showing_changes_from_PBAP_1.2.1 |
SAP | SIM Access Profile | 1.1.1 | Active | 15 Dec 2015 | N/A |
SPP | Serial Port Profile | 1.2 | Active | 24 Jul 2012 | N/A |
SYNCH | Synchronization Profile | 1.2.1 | Active | 15 Dec 2015 | N/A |
VDP | Video Distribution Profile | 1.1 | Active | 24 Jul 2012 | N/A |