Connecting iPhone Bluetooth to Non-iOS Devices

Question

I was wondering if there is a way to use the iPhone as a HID device, with some other device like PS3. I checked the bluetooth specification, and IOS devices support HID profile. So I thought it would be easy to connect my iPhone using an access mechanism, and he could start using my iPhone as a keyboard or mouse without much hassle. But I soon found that this assumption is naive, and I need to develop an individual solution.

At first I thought about using the GameKit framework, but I think it only works between two compatible iOS devices. If I want to expand this feature, then I have to use the external external API APIs. In my analysis, I also found that the iPhone will only communicate and interact with devices licensed by Apple. (Made for iPhone \ iPod program). Does this mean that if I want to use the iPhone with another device, I need to get this device approved by Apple. (This will not surprise me). Also, if someone can point me to more detailed documentation on this, this will also be helpful. (What is the MFI development board?)

I do not need a solution that requires me to jailbreak the iPhone. (or any solution that disqualifies my Apple application).

So, we summarize:

1- Please confirm my conclusions, correct them if they are mistaken?

2a- How does the external accessory API work? b- Can I use this to connect to third-party accessories? (or it is only for application developers).

3- Or is there a better solution without using the external accessories API?

Please attach supporting documentation or a link if you can. Thanks.

Answer 1

You are unlikely to get into the program of external accessories from an apple, if you are not a large company (you can try, but I read a few places). iPhones use the proprietary Bluetooth interface, and the hardware must also implement this interface, so it will not have a chance to connect it to any other equipment directly.

In most applications like this one (remote mouse), for example, connect to a Wi-Fi network and install another application on your computer. Then the iphone can talk to this application over a Wi-Fi network, but not with Bluetooth. I would suggest that the only way to see this would be to create a server application that you install on a computer on a wi-fi network, and then, in turn, controls a third-party device, if there is an API that you can use from a desktop application for third-party device management.

This is exactly what I found when I researched about it to create an iPhone app for managing a Bluetooth watch. In the end, I had to jailbreak to replace the bluetooth stack on the iPhone with one that could connect to any hardware device. Not limited to apple.

Answer 2

I have one question, can I jailbreak my PS3 Super Slim CFW ???