How can I create a Bluetooth serial connection between an iPhone and an Arduino+Bluetooth Mate?

Question

I have a project where I need my iPhone to communicate with an Arduino. Bluetooth seems like the best option for the communication. How should I program my iPhone (what framework?) to communicate with the Bluetooth Mate or do Apple's restrictions prevent this? Is it possible with a jailbroken iPhone? Is there a better way other than Bluetooth? Sample code would be helpful.

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

Actually you can make it happen now without Jailbreaking or MFi enrollment.

Take a look ate Bluetooth 4.0 in newer iOS devices and Arduino BT 4.0 shield.

This might help: http://blog.makezine.com/2012/03/19/bluetooth-4-0-from-arduino-to-iphone-no-jailbreaking-no-mfi/

Answer 2

Meanwhile there is an Arduino shield available from Seeedstudio: Bluetooth Low Energy Shield

Devices following the Bluetooth 4.0 specification can be accessed by all iPhone/iPad models with a Bluetooth 4.0 chip inside (currently iPhone 4S, 5 and iPad 3) running with iOS 6. You no longer need to be part of the MFI program or jailbreak the device for most purposes. Use the Core Bluetooth Framework that's also discussed in the WWDC 2012 videos Core Bluetooth 101 (Core OS) and Advanced Core Bluetooth (Core OS).