iBeacon is a protocol developed by Apple and introduced at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in 2013.[1]
Various vendors have since made iBeacon-compatible hardware transmitters – typically called beacons – a class of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices that broadcast their identifier to nearby portable electronic devices. The technology enables smartphones, tablets and other devices to perform actions when in proximity to an iBeacon.[2][3]
iBeacon is based on Bluetooth low energy proximity sensing by transmitting a universally unique identifier[4] picked up by a compatible app or operating system. The identifier and several bytes sent with it can be used to determine the device's physical location,[5] track customers, or trigger a location-based action on the device such as a check-in on social media or a push notification.
iBeacon can also be used with an application as an indoor positioning system,[6][7][8] which helps smartphones determine their approximate location or context. With the help of an iBeacon, a smartphone's software can approximately find its relative location to an iBeacon in a store. Brick and mortar retail stores use the beacons for mobile commerce, offering customers special deals through mobile marketing,[9] and can enable mobile payments through point of sale systems.
Another application is distributing messages at a specific Point of Interest, for example a store, a bus stop, a room or a more specific location like a piece of furniture or a vending machine. This is similar to previously used geopush technology based on GPS, but with a much reduced impact on battery life and better precision.
iBeacon differs from some other location-based technologies as the broadcasting device (beacon) is only a 1-way transmitter to the receiving smartphone or receiving device, and necessitates a specific app installed on the device to interact with the beacons. This ensures that only the installed app (not the iBeacon transmitter) can track users as they walk around the transmitters.
iBeacon compatible transmitters come in a variety of form factors, including small coin cell devices, USB sticks, and generic Bluetooth 4.0 capable USB dongles.[10]
An assortment of iBeacons from different vendors
^"iOS: Understanding iBeacon". Apple Inc. February 2015.
^"Bfonics Inc". Bfonics.com. Archived from the original on November 8, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
^"Beacons: Everything you need to know". Pointrlabs.com. January 18, 2015. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
^"iBeacons". Dave Addey. September 22, 2013. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
^"Inside iOS 7: iBeacons enhance apps' location awareness via Bluetooth LE". Forums.appleinsider.com. June 18, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
^"iBeacon Bible" (PDF). Andy Cavallini. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
^"Apple iBeacons Explained – Smart Home Occupancy Sensing Solved?". Automated Home. October 3, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
^"iBeacon- The game changer in InStore Navigation". Archived from the original on October 31, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
^"Apple iBeacons Find Their Way Into McDonald's". Forbes. December 18, 2014.
^"Overview piBeacon DIY iBeacon with a Raspberry Pi Adafruit Learning System". Retrieved May 14, 2014.
iBeacon is a protocol developed by Apple and introduced at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in 2013. Various vendors have since made iBeacon-compatible...
Nordic Semiconductor now supply chipsets optimized for iBeacon use. Power consumption depends on iBeacon configuration parameters of advertising interval and...
announced iBeacon: the first beacon protocol in the market. iBeacon works with Apple's iOS and Google's Android. The beacon using the iBeacon protocol...
Using the language of Estimote, 'nearables' were an implementation of the iBeacon standard that additionally provided orientation, temperature, and motion...
the driving app. The Tag wirelessly connects to smartphones via Apple iBeacon technology. Metromile was founded in Redwood City, California, in 2011...
the long battery life possible for 'always-on' devices. Manufacturers of iBeacon devices implement the appropriate specifications for their device to make...
implementations utilizing the iBeacon wireless Geo-fence started to appear in retail locations in the US. The iBeacon solutions allowed the retailer...
proprietary Bluetooth driver Bluetooth Low Energy beacons (AltBeacon, iBeacon, Eddystone) Bluetooth mesh networking Continua Health Alliance DASH7 Headset...
attempt to prevent using the device for stalking. Find My Device Life360 iBeacon "Find My - Official Apple Support". support.apple.com. Retrieved October...
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) in-store presence solution (Apple iBeacon-compatible) in its audio/iBeacon hybrid, called shopBeacon. World Economic Forum, Tech Pioneer...
same as a single AirTag and has been criticized as an "accessory tax". iBeacon Galaxy SmartTag List of UWB-enabled devices "Apple introduces AirTag"....
Bruninga, WB4APR, became the basis of the APRS networks. Geography portal iBeacon Non-directional beacon Marker beacon Letter beacon Radio direction finder...
Clover, Juli (June 30, 2014). "Apple Releases iOS 7.1.2 With Mail Fixes, iBeacon Improvements". MacRumors. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017...
is suitable for low cost basic mobile telephones that lack Bluetooth or iBeacon, or as a backup communication system, when Bluetooth fails. Mobile device...
included SmartConnect which provides content based on attendee app usage, iBeacon-enabled audience response solution, marketing to track attendee behaviors...
send its status to other devices. Apple provides this feature through iBeacon but one can develop their own. It's easily possible in Android but little...
Link Labs and a real-time location system (RTLS). It utilizes open-source iBeacon and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology to track assets and individuals...
Australian-based loyalty card application called Stamp Me which incorporates iBeacon technology. Others, like Loopy Loyalty (HK), Loyalli (UK), Perka (US),...
Global Information
