Hi Andy, the FloBLE Plus is an active device with a 780mAH battery inside. The NFC and BLE wireless interfaces radiate RF energy at 13.56Mhz and 2.4GHz, respectively. These frequencies are regulated around the world and require certification (FCC, CE, UL, etc) in certain cases, like BLE. Also, standards bodies like the NFC Forum and the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) charge licensing fees for products carrying their logos and branding.
RE: Custom casing and branding. We do offer these options but costs can vary wildly based on a few factors. First, any changes in the case geometry will require re-certification for FCC, CE, and UL since the radiation signature of the product will be different. Certification costs are around $15k. Second, any branding changes will require new licensing with the NFC Forum and the Bluetooth SIG. A new qualified design id (QDID) will need to be issued since they view it as an entirely new product. Licensing fees are around $15k as well. Then there’s the engineering work to create the design and product finish you seek, which can vary based on your specific requirements. We charge $150/hr for this type of work and are very transparent about time needed for each task. Because of the setup time and resources involved, it’s not viable to follow this approach unless you’re intending to manufacture more than 1000 units.
If you’re interested in a smaller number of units where the casing mechanics remain intact, then you may consider rebranding the devices with stickers. Or we can screen print just the top halves of the enclosure with your branding and swap out the original enclosures from the factory. We charge $8/unit for the sticker approach and $15/unit for the case swap approach -above the list price of the FloBLE Plus- for these services.
hope that helps.
Richard
