There are many modules can be found. But most of them have pads only bottom side for SMD. If you can solder such type of modules, there are many choices.
I have seen some kind of Bluetooth products.
- TI CC2540 and CC2541 (8051). Requires IAR Embedded workbench ($3000) for development. CCDebugger is required to flash in general.
Bluegiga provides BGScript (Basic interpreter language) that allows you to write your firmware without the expensive tool.
Modules: Bluegiga BLE112, BLE113, BLE121LR
- CSR CSR8510 (XAP). The toolchain for development is provided as part of its development kit ($500?). This chip is used in many USB dongles.
Modules: Bluegiga BT111
- CSR CSR1010, CSR1011. The toolchain can be obtained as part of the development kit ($300).
Modules: not known?
- Broadcom BCM20737S (ARM Cortex-M3). The SDK is provided by the manufacture. The package looks normal chip but it contains antenna inside. I could not find HID example in its SDK few months ago.
Modules: Mpression Koshian MP-KSN001B
- Dialog DA14580 (ARM Cortex-M0). The SDK is provided by the manufacture.
Modules: Murata LBCA2HNZYZ-711
- STmicro BlueNRG (ARM Cortex-M0). Not widely used yet?
- Nordic nRF51822 (ARM Cortex-M0). The SDK can be obtained from the manufacture. mbed supported.
Modules: Laird BL600, Fujitsu Component MBH7BLZ02, DYNASTREAM N548M8CB, Hoshiden HRM1026, Raytac MDBT40
- Microchip RN4020 (?). As external BLE module. Impossible to reprogram?
Module: Microchip RN4020
Since I'm in Japan, listed modules are TELEC certified. There are many modules that can be seen in the market.
I'm considering to use MDBT40 module that has pads at the edge of the module and the module can be by in ebay. nRF51822 has many GPIO pins and MDBT40 expose all pins. But 32.768kHz crystal is not on the module.