The call for nominations for The Bluetooth Breakthrough Awards, an annual program held by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) announced earlier this year, will close on Dec. 3, 2012. The program will recognize the best Bluetooth-enabled products and applications on the market today as well as innovative prototypes coming soon.

The Bluetooth SIG, in conjunction with Title Sponsor Nordic Semiconductor and Preferred Technology Partner Ellisys SA aim to highlight and promote the most exciting Bluetooth enabled devices while also acknowledging superior user experiences and best-of-breed implementations.

The Bluetooth Breakthrough Awards are open to all levels of SIG membership in addition to non-members. The program features three categories – Breakthrough Products, Breakthrough Applications, and Breakthrough Prototypes.

“The SIG started an awards program seven years ago to showcase the incredible products our members are building with Bluetooth technology – be it at home, at work, or at play, the devices we highlight will demonstrate how life is better with Bluetooth,” said Suke Jawanda, CMO, Bluetooth SIG. “As the number of Bluetooth Smart products coming to market continues to grow, I am particularly excited to see the addition of software applications to this year’s competition. Even though this is a new category, it already makes up a quarter of the submissions we have received thus far.”

Finalists for the awards will be announced and featured the evening of Jan. 7 at the Pepcom Digital Experience Showcase during the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). An overall winner, along with three category winners, will be announced at the Pepcom MobileFocus Global event on Feb. 24 at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2013 in Barcelona, Spain. As the title sponsor of this year’s Bluetooth Breakthrough Awards, Nordic Semiconductor will be awarding the finalists with evaluation kits and giving away a free trip to its headquarters in Norway to the category winners. The overall winner will also receive a Bluetooth protocol analyzer, valued at USD 40,000, from Ellisys, the preferred technology partner sponsor.

All products must use Bluetooth technology and be available for promotion starting January 2013. Additional category specific criteria include the following:

Breakthrough Products – Entries must be for products launched in 2012 and available for purchase, and must be qualified and listed in the Bluetooth SIG End Product Listing (EPL). Products in this category will be judged on innovation and market appeal.

Breakthrough Applications – Entries must be for software applications launched and available for download in 2012. Applications will be evaluated on their ability to deliver streamlined and innovative user experiences when interacting with the expanding breadth of Bluetooth devices. This category is open to any submission.

Breakthrough Prototypes – Entries must be for products and applications in development but with a workable prototype. Entries should feature the “Better with Bluetooth technology” concept while providing a glimpse into what’s coming in the near future with Bluetooth innovation. This category is open to any submission.

An expert panel of SIG representatives and industry experts will select five finalists from the product category and three finalists from both the application and prototype categories. Entries will be judged based on interoperability testing, containing expected profiles and ease of use. Products that have a confirmed issue on the SIG Brand and Qualification Tracking System or do not include instructions for use with the submission will be automatically disqualified.

Nominations must be submitted by Dec. 3, 2012 and review units must be shipped to 202 South Lowell Lane, 78733, Austin, TX no later than Dec. 7, 2012. The online nomination form can be accessed here or through Bluetooth.org. Questions about the program can be directed to Lindsay Peattie, Bluetooth SIG global events and brand manager, at events@bluetooth.com.

Finalists and winners will also be promoted on Bluetooth SIG websites, press release, social media (Twitter @BluetoothSIG and Facebook at Facebook.com/Bluetooth) and other SIG communications.

2012 Bluetooth Breakthrough Awards Sponsors

Nordic Semiconductor is the title sponsor of this year’s The Bluetooth Breakthrough Awards, and will be giving away evaluation kits to the 11 finalists and a free trip to its headquarters to the category winners. Nordic will also be attending Pepcom at CES 2013 and Mobile World Congress 2013 in conjunction with the awards program. As the preferred technology partner, Ellisys SA will be awarding an Ellisys Bluetooth Protocol Analyzer, valued at USD 40,000, to the overall winner of the competition.

About Bluetooth® Wireless Technology

Bluetooth wireless technology is the global wireless standard enabling simple connectivity for a broad range of electronic devices. Version 4.0 featuring Bluetooth low energy technology creates new application opportunities for products within the mobile phone, consumer electronics, PC, automotive, health & wellness, sports & fitness and smart home industries. With nearly two billion devices shipping annually, Bluetooth technology is the only proven wireless solution for developers, product manufacturers, and consumers worldwide. Backed by industry leading companies, the Bluetooth SIG empowers more than 17,000 member companies to collaborate, innovate and guide Bluetooth wireless technology. For more information please visit www.bluetooth.com. Bluetooth wireless technology: Simple. Secure. Everywhere.