the ibeacon guide to success - a comprehensive overview on the technology with best practices

17-Okt-14 | © candylabs GmbH | 1

THE iBEACON GUIDE TO SUCCESS

Content

1  What are iBeacons? 2  What is new about it? 3  iBeacon vs. Beacons

4  What are the uses cases for iBeacons?

5  How does the technology work?

6  What is the future of iBeacons?

7  What to focus on when implementing Beacons? 8  Good examples of what you should not do with Beacons

What are iBeacons?

iBeacons refers to an electronic device that uses the iBeacon indoor proximity system to adverstise itself to beacon aware applications. This technology enables indoor-positioning of smartphones without a GPS signal. To communicate with beacon aware applications, iBeacons use Bluetooth LE to advertise their signal to other Bluetooth LE enabled devices, e.g. iOS and Android smartphones.

17-Okt-14 | © candylabs GmbH | 3 Image © kontakt.io

What is new about it?

First, localization is more precise than other systems available to date. Under average conditions, position can be determined with an accuracy between 15 and 50 cm. An iBeacon’s strongest feature, though, is enabling positioning in closed rooms where a GPS signal is not available. The maximum range of an iBeacon is of about 70 meters.

17-Okt-14 | © candylabs GmbH | 4 Image © http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple-starts-ibeacon-certification-under-made-for-iphone-program

iBeacon vs. Beacons

17-Okt-14 | © candylabs GmbH | 5 Copyright and all credits for the illustration: http://blog.passkit.com/ibeacon-101-proximity-services-infographic/

What are the uses cases for iBeacons?

Accurate indoor positioning enables several innovative applications, for example indoor navigation at large indoors events like trade fairs, sport stadiums, shopping malls, and restaurants. Implementation of the iBeacon technology in the home enables room-specific reminders or short-cut functions, e.g. when in the kitchen automatically open the timer app. Introduced in 2013, iBeacons are still young as a technology and it is likely that its full potential is yet to be discovered.


Indoor Navigation

... and a lot more!

Proximity Marketing

Information

How does the technology work?

An iBeacon is a relatively simple electronic device that uses Bluetooth LE to advertise itself. The advertisement contains information that can uniquely identify a beacon, a universally unique identifier (UUID) and two other numbers called major and minor. The iBeacon protocol is an Apple standard that can be used with iOS and other operating systems. iBeacons are typically powered with an internal battery although some models are designed to be plugged to a power outlet. An iBeacon’s signal may be used by one or several applications simultaneously. To receive a signal, an application must register the iBeacons which it needs to be notified about. The interpretation of the signal and the actions triggered by a signal are application dependent. The signal strength of an iBeacon makes it possible to estimate the distance to an iBeacon. By combining the signal strength and the presence of Beacon signals it is possible to automatically trigger precise location specific events that are communicated to the user through a smarphone.


What is the future of Beacons?


What to focus on when implementing Beacons?


usable

useful

valuable

findable

credible

desirable

accessible

The user experience Honeycomb, © http://semanticstudios.com/user_experience_design/

Focus on the user and the user experience. There is no sense in annoying the user by sending non-contextual push-notifications or offering discount after discount just because you are technically able to do so. If you are wondering what might be the perfect concept for your business:

[email protected]

What you shouldn’t do with iBeacons


Continue reading here: http://www.networkworld.com/article/2691964/opensource-subnet/secret-ad-beacon-network-uncovered-shut-down-in-new-york-city.html

Why do we have the legitimicy to advice on Beacons?

Check out our recent Case-Study combining Beacons, Premium-Gastro and Gamification.

http://gastro.candy-labs.com/


Want to make the best out of iBeacons for you? Get in touch!

candylabs GmbH 17.10.2014 [email protected] www.candy-labs.com

/candylabsHQ /user/thecandylabs /candylabsHQ

the ibeacon guide to success - a comprehensive overview on the technology with best practices

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