After the revolutionary technology of Global Positioning System i.e. GPS, it’s now time for the world to experience Apple Inc.’s all new ‘indoor positioning system’ which they have christened as iBeacon. Apple Inc. has recently come up with this brand new positioning system which they have explained as a new set of minimally powered and less expensive transmitters that are capable of notifying any nearby iOS7 devices within a certain circumference. The major task of this iBeacon service would be to send push notifications to other iOS devices within close vicinity.
The underlying base technology within iBeacon is the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) also known as Bluetooth 4.0 and Bluetooth Smart. This ubiquitous technology will work by using wireless sensing beacon transmitters along with the BLE to pinpoint your location within the area under the coverage of the transmitters.
Apple has planted several transmitters in all of its stores within the US and enabled iBeacon for its customers. Once a compatible device enters the perimeter, iBeacon prompts the user. Users are then required to enable in-store notifications as well as allow the application to access to location data and send push notification.
On allowing those permissions, iBeacon then detects your exact position and the product within the closest proximity and starts sending you messages and information about the showcased product provided you have the latest iOS flavor and the Bluetooth is turned ON.
After major evolution of this iBeacon technology in the days to come, there could be brighter possibilities for this technology which may help even subway commuters to gain first-hand knowledge about train delay as they wait on the platform. Art galleries and museums can deploy this technology to let people know more information about the painting or the antique they are standing right in front of.
This technology can also provide check out and payment through it. Therefore, within a crowded store, the presence of any store executive to complete the payment process won’t be necessary. This option will be appreciated by several customers for sure. Retailers can push notifications within their customer devices tailored with offers and deals. This can be a commercial way to bind customers within the stores for longer periods.
One minor issue for Apple might be the mindset of its customers to grant access to iBeacon without any privacy concerns. This is important because, without this permission from the users, iBeacon would not be able to provide the facilities that it’s capable of. On the other hand, Apple has clearly stated that it doesn’t store any information from the end users. Latest developments also suggest that any android device with BLE can also have the fun with this iBeacon technology.
This newcomer from Apple although in its nascent form, can ignite possibilities to challenge NFC like technology. But the final verdict can only be made once iBeacon is widely used by the majority. Once iBeacon comes out with flying colors, other software and innovation giants like Microsoft and Google might follow suit. Konstant infosolutions Pvt. Ltd. is constantly eyeing such modern innovative technology and eager to put its hands all over it and might also try to involve in the further development of this technology, once it’s declared open source.
Vipin Jain is the Co-Founder and CEO at Konstant Infosolutions and is in charge of marketing, project management, administration and R&D at the company. With his marketing background, Vipin Jain has developed and honed the company’s vision, corporate structure & initiatives and its goals, and brought the company into the current era of success.
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