On Tuesday, Apple unveiled their new iPhones to the world and while some of you may have been wishing for the addition of an NFC chip, they have no plans for it. Instead they are gambling on a creative use of Bluetooth to offer an improved experience of sending data over short distances. And of course, Apple already has its own moniker for it as it is called iBeacon. More details on it below.
As part of the iOS 7 software kit, developers will have access to a new feature called iBeacon. This uses Bluetooth Low Energy (also known as Bluetooth 4.0 + Bluetooth Smart) which has been increasing more popular w/ the many health + fitness accessories like the Pebble and Polar heart rate monitors. Back to iBeacon, it is supposed to work small Bluetooth devices to provide nearby-location services making for real-world uses like being able to beam discounts to customers while they’re eyeing your merchandise would be an immediate draw for retailers.
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| An example of iBeacon in use. |
