iBeacon
iBeacon is an indoor positioning system[1] that Apple Inc. calls "a new class of low-powered, low-cost transmitters that can notify nearby iOS 7 devices of their presence".[2] iBeacons can also be used by the Android operating system.[3] iBeacon in a single sentence is a technology that enables an iOS device or other hardware to send push notifications to iOS devices within close proximity.
Apple’s iBeacon works on Low Energy Bluetooth (BLE), also known as Bluetooth 4.0 or Bluetooth Smart. In a real life scenario it would be more of a location-aware, context-aware, pervasive small wireless sensor beacon which could pinpoint your location in a store. From there iBeacons could send you personal notifications of items around you that are on sale or items you may be looking for. It could enable payments at the point of Sale (POS) such that you don’t need to remove your wallet or card to make a payment. It could be a possible Near Field Communication (NFC) competitor.
It works by using Bluetooth low energy Proximity sensing to transmit a Universally unique identifier[4] which when picked up by a compatible app or operating system can be turned into a physical location[5] or trigger a specific action on the device[6] such as a Check-in on social media.
The beacons themselves come in a number of different formats, including small coin cell powered devices, USB sticks and software versions.
Compatible devices
- iOS devices with Bluetooth 4.0 (iPhone 4S and later, iPad 3 and later, iPod touch 5, iPad mini and later)
- Android devices with Bluetooth 4.0 and Android 4.3 and later (Samsung Galaxy S3/S4, Samsung Galaxy Note II/III, HTC One, Nexus 7 2013 edition, Nexus 4, Nexus 5,[7] HTC Butterfly, Droid DNA)[8]
- Macintosh computers equipped with OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) and Bluetooth 4.0 using the MacBeacon application from Radius Networks.[9]
References
- ^ http://www.automatedhome.co.uk/apple/apple-ibeacons-explained-smart-home-occupancy-sensing-solved.html
- ^ "Submit your iOS 7 apps today". Apple Inc. 2013-06. Retrieved 2013-09-23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ http://www.mobilepaymentstoday.com/article/221089/SDK-will-let-Android-users-join-the-iBeacon-party
- ^ http://daveaddey.com/?p=1252
- ^ http://forums.appleinsider.com/t/158126/inside-ios-7-ibeacons-enhance-apps-location-awareness-via-bluetooth-le
- ^ http://developer.radiusnetworks.com/2013/10/09/how-to-make-an-ibeacon-out-of-a-raspberry-pi.html
- ^ http://www.google.ca/nexus/5/
- ^ http://developer.radiusnetworks.com/ibeacon/android/documentation.html
- ^ http://www.radiusnetworks.com/macbeacon-app.html
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