What is meant by BT SIG specification deprecation/withdrawl?

Answer

From time to time, the BT SIG will deprecate or withdraw older versions of the BT specification. This is sometimes done to encourage developers to move to more recent versions of the specification with improved security for example.

A version of the BT specification can be active, deprecated or withdrawn.

When creating a product that use BT SIG intellectual property one must be a member of the BT SIG and list that product with the SIG declaring the version of the specification used.

products using active specification versions have no restrictions
products using deprecated specification versions cannot create a qualification/declaration for a product that uses a new Bluetooth design.(requires testing). Creating a qualification/declaration that does not require testing is allowed
products using withdrawn specifications cannot be qualified/declared at all

See the link below for more details. An account with the BT SIG maybe required to view the link

Deprecation and Withdrawal (D&W) – Bluetooth SIG Inc

None of the above impacts Ezurio (formerly Laird Connectivity) ability to manufacture or sell modules using deprecated ort withdrawn version of the specification.

Nor does it prevent Lairds customers from manufacturing or selling a device using a Laird module.