Questions for HW/FW teams building a Bluetooth product

Bluetooth integration isn’t just about connecting devices—it’s about building a solid foundation. For embedded teams, understanding the hardware constraints, firmware capabilities, and collaboration points with app teams is the focus.

Here are some key questions for hardware and firmware teams to ask when working on Bluetooth-enabled products:

• What are the hardware constraints?

  • Have we optimized antenna design and placement for reliable signal strength?

• What BLE features does the firmware stack support?

  • Does the stack support the required features? e.g. data length extensions

• How do we structure GATT to support the app team?

  • Are services and characteristics organized to simplify app development?

• What pairing modes can we support, and which one are we using?

  • Do the pairing modes align with our security and usability requirements (e.g., Just Works, Passkey, Numeric Comparison)?

• How will we upgrade the firmware?

  • If we’re using OTA over BLE, what protocol will we use, and how do we ensure security during updates?

These are just some of many questions to ask, but highlight the main areas to consider.