Avoid false Bluetooth, resellers warned

VARs told to stick to approved products or face court appearance and hefty fines

As counterfeit Bluetooth products flood the UK market, resellers caught selling them could face a court appearance and hefty fines, according to wireless vendor TDK Systems.

The firm, which is running a series of seminars for resellers next month, claimed up to 50 per cent of Bluetooth accessories have not undergone official qualification or violate trademark standards.

Dave Curl, a representative of TDK Systems, said: "It is very important for resellers to know products have been qualified. If they stick to approved products they know they will be selling technology that works."

Curl said the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), of which TDK Systems is an associate, has already registered more than 1,000 products, each bearing a SIG trademark.

"There are some unscrupulous vendors out there that want to make cheaper products and get them out to the marketplace quickly, and to hell with the consequences," he said.

"Stocking these products may appear to be a quick win, but not only could substandard products taint the reputation of Bluetooth, VARs could be at risk of legal prosecution."

Steve Muttram, managing director of wireless distributor Portable, said: "Bluetooth has taken a long time to get to market and vendors such as TDK have spent time and money ensuring the products work properly.

"Resellers know you get what you pay for, and if you buy cheap, there is a likelihood that the products won't work."

Andy Brown, programme manager EMEA mobile computing and mobile devices at analyst IDC, said: "I would have thought it was down to the manufacturers to ensure that their technology is legal and properly qualified, rather than the resellers."