A Bluetooth profile is a wireless interface specification for Bluetooth-based communication between devices. In order to use Bluetooth technology, a device must be compatible with the subset of Bluetooth profiles necessary to use the desired services. A Bluetooth profile resides on top of the Bluetooth Core Specification and (optionally) additional protocols. While the profile may use certain features of the core specification, specific versions of profiles are rarely tied to specific versions of the core specification. For example, there are HFP 1.5 implementations using both Bluetooth 2.0 and Bluetooth 1.2 core specifications.
The way a device uses Bluetooth technology depends on its profile capabilities. The profiles provide standards which manufacturers follow to allow devices to use Bluetooth in the intended manner.
At a minimum, each profile specification contains information on the following topics:
- Dependencies on other profiles
- Suggested user interface formats
- Specific parts of the Bluetooth protocol stack used by the profile. To perform its task, each profile uses particular options and parameters at each layer of the stack. This may include an outline of the required service record, if appropriate.
This article summarizes the current definitions and possible applications of each profile.
List of profiles
The following profiles are defined and adopted by the Bluetooth SIG:
Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP)
This profile defines how high quality audio (stereo or mono) can be streamed from one device to another over a Bluetooth connection. For example, music can be streamed from a mobile phone to a wireless headset or car audio or from a laptop/desktop to a wireless headset.
A2DP was initially used in conjunction with an intermediate Bluetooth transceiver that connects to a standard audio output jack, encodes the incoming audio to a Bluetooth-friendly format, and sends the signal wirelessly to Bluetooth headphones that decode and play the audio. Bluetooth headphones, especially the more advanced models, often come with a microphone and support for the Headset (HSP), Hands-Free (HFP) and Audio/Video Remote Control (AVRCP) profiles.
A2DP is designed to transfer a uni-directional 2-channel stereo audio stream, like music from an MP3 player, to a headset or car radio. This profile relies on AVDTP and GAVDP. It includes mandatory support for the low complexity SBC codec (not to be confused with Bluetooth's voice-signal codecs such as CVSDM), and supports optionally: MPEG-1 , MPEG-2, MPEG-4, AAC, and ATRAC, and is extensible to support manufacturer-defined codecs, such as apt-X. Most Bluetooth stacks implement the SCMS-T digital rights management (DRM) scheme. In these cases, it is possible to connect the A2DP headphones for high quality audio.
Operating systems
- Android: Supported in version 1.5.
- BlackBerry: Supports A2DP in Operating System 4.2.
- iPhone: Version 3.0 and newer of the operating system supports all Bluetooth formats on iPhone 3G(s) hardware only.
- iPod Touch: Only on the second and third generation iPod Touch supports A2DP (originally thought to be for "Nike+iPod").
- Linux: Initial A2DP support was added to BlueZ in version 3.15. The instructions to set up A2DP can be found in the BlueZ Wiki.
- Mac OS X: As of version 10.5, Mac OS X includes native support for A2DP on Bluetooth-equipped Macs. Version 10.4 does not support A2DP, but can be hacked to enable limited functionality.
- Motorola P2K: Motorola L9 running on P2K supports A2DP Profile.
- Palm OS: A2DP not supported, but can be implemented with third-party applications.
- Palm webOS: A2DP supported by Palm Pre.
- Symbian Series60: Devices running Series60 3rd Edition FP1 (S60v3.1/Symbian 9.1) and newer support A2DP
- UIQ: UIQ 3.0 (Symbian 9.1) and newer support A2DP.
- Windows Mobile (previously Pocket PC): Version 5.0 and newer (with AKU 2.0), thus far based on the Windows CE 5.0 kernel, fully support A2DP if an appropriate device is present.
- Windows Vista: Does not support A2DP natively, but third-parties can provide A2DP profile support without entirely replacing Microsoft's stack. Service Pack 2 adds Bluetooth 2.1 capabilities such as simplified pairing.
- Windows XP: Does not natively support A2DP, but newer Bluetooth USB dongles and built-in adapters include drivers with A2DP support.
- Windows 7: Windows 7 Release Candidate no longer includes a Bluetooth audio-class driver.
Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP)
This profile is designed to provide a standard interface to control TVs, Hi-fi equipment, etc. to allow a single remote control (or other device) to control all of the A/V equipment to which a user has access. It may be used in concert with A2DP or VDP.
It has the possibility for vendor-dependent extensions.
AVRCP has several versions with significantly increasing functionality:
- 1.0—Basic remote control commands (play/pause/stop, etc)
- 1.3—all of 1.0 plus metadata and media-player state support
- The status of the music source (playing, stopped, etc)
- Metadata information on the track itself (artist, track name, etc).
- 1.4—all of 1.0, 1.3, plus media browsing capabilities for multiple media players
- Browsing and manipulation of multiple players
- Browsing of media metadata per media player, including a "Now Playing" list
- Basic search capabilities
Basic Imaging Profile (BIP)
This profile is designed for sending images between devices and includes the ability to resize, and convert images to make them suitable for the receiving device. It may be broken down into smaller pieces:
Basic Printing Profile (BPP)
This allows devices to send text, e-mails, vCards, or other items to printers based on print jobs. It differs from HCRP in that it needs no printer-specific drivers. This makes it more suitable for embedded devices such as mobile phones and digital cameras which cannot easily be updated with drivers dependent upon printer vendors.
Common ISDN Access Profile (CIP)
This provides unrestricted access to the services, data and signalling that ISDN offers.
Cordless Telephony Profile (CTP)
This is designed for cordless phones to work using Bluetooth. It is hoped that mobile phones could use a Bluetooth CTP gateway connected to a landline when within the home, and the mobile phone network when out of range. It is central to the Bluetooth SIG's '3-in-1 phone' use case.
Device ID Profile (DID)
This profile allows a device to be identified above and beyond the limitations of the Device Class already available in Bluetooth. It enables identification of the manufacturer, product id, product version, and the version of the Device ID specification being met. It is useful in allowing a PC to identify a connecting device and download appropriate drivers. It enables similar applications to those the Plug-and-play specification allows.
Dial-up Networking Profile (DUN)
This profile provides a standard to access the Internet and other dial-up services over Bluetooth. The most common scenario is accessing the Internet from a laptop by dialing up on a mobile phone, wirelessly. It is based on Serial Port Profile (SPP), and provides for relatively easy conversion of existing products, through the many features that it has in common with the existing wired serial protocols for the same task. These include the AT command set specified in European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) 07.07, and Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP).
Fax Profile (FAX)
This profile is intended to provide a well defined interface between a mobile phone or fixed-line phone and a PC with Fax software installed. Support must be provided for ITU T.31 and / or ITU T.32 AT command sets as defined by ITU-T. Data and voice calls are not covered by this profile.
File Transfer Profile (FTP)
Provides the capability to browse, manipulate and transfer objects (files and folders) in an object store (file system) of another system. Uses GOEP as a basis.
Generic Audio/Video Distribution Profile (GAVDP)
Provides the basis for A2DP, and VDP.
Generic Access Profile (GAP)
Provides the basis for all other profiles.1
Generic Object Exchange Profile (GOEP)
Provides a basis for other data profiles. Based on OBEX.
Hard Copy Cable Replacement Profile (HCRP)
This provides a simple wireless alternative to a cable connection between a device and a printer. Unfortunately it does not set a standard regarding the actual communications to the printer, so drivers are required specific to the printer model or range. This makes this profile less useful for embedded devices such as digital cameras and palmtops, as updating drivers can be problematic.
Hands-Free Profile (HFP)
This is commonly used to allow car hands-free kits to communicate with mobile phones in the car. It uses SCO to carry a mono, continuously variable slope delta modulation or pulse-code modulation with logarithmic a-law or μ-law qua
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