Bluetooth Low Energy is a wireless personal area network technology used for transmitting data over short distances. As the name implies, it’s designed for low energy consumption and cost, while maintaining a communication range similar to that of its predecessor, Classic Bluetooth.

What is Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)?

Bluetooth Low Energy is a wireless personal area network technology used for transmitting data over short distances. As the name implies, it’s designed for low energy consumption and cost, while maintaining a communication range similar to that of its predecessor, Classic Bluetooth.

How is BLE different from Regular Bluetooth?

• Power Consumption: Bluetooth LE, as the name hints, has low energy requirements. It can last up to 3 years on a single coin cell battery.
• Lower Cost: BLE is 60-80% cheaper than traditional Bluetooth.
• Application: BLE is ideal for simple applications requiring small periodic transfers of data. Classic Bluetooth is preferred for more complex applications requiring consistent communication and more data throughput.

How does BLE communication work?

BLE communication consists primarily of “Advertisements”, or small packets of data, broadcast at a regular interval by Beacons or other BLE enabled devices via radio waves.

BLE Advertising is a one-way communication method. Beacons that want to be “discovered” can broadcast, or “Advertise” self-contained packets of data in set intervals. These packets are meant to be collected by devices like smartphones, where they can be used for a variety of smartphone applications to trigger things like push messages, app actions, and prompts.

Apple’s iBeacon standard calls for an optimal broadcast interval of 100 ms.  Broadcasting more frequently uses more battery life but allows for quicker discovery by smartphones and other listening devices.

Standard BLE has a broadcast range of up to 100 meters, which make Beacons ideal for indoor location tracking and awareness.

How does iBeacon use BLE communication?

With iBeacon, Apple has standardized the format for BLE Advertising. Under this format, an advertising packet consists of four main pieces of information.

UUID: This is a 16 byte string used to differentiate a large group of related beacons. For example, if Coca-Cola maintained a network of beacons in a chain of grocery stores, all Coca-Cola beacons would share the same UUID. This allows Coca-Cola’s dedicated smartphone app to know which beacon advertisements come from Coca-Cola-owned beacons.

Major: This is a 2 byte string used to distinguish a smaller subset of beacons within the larger group. For example, if Coca-Cola had four beacons in a particular grocery store, all four would have the same Major. This allows Coca-Cola to know exactly which store its customer is in.

Minor: This is a 2 byte string meant to identify individual beacons. Keeping with the Coca-Cola example, a beacon at the front of the store would have its own unique Minor. This allows Coca-Cola’s dedicated app to know exactly where the customer is in the store.

Example:

A beacon broadcasts the following packet

UUID: 12345678910245

Major: 22

Minor: 2

Why is iBeacon a Big Deal? 

With an iBeacon network, any brand, retailer, app, or platform will be able to understand exactly where a customer is in the brick and mortar environment. This provides an opportunity to send customers highly contextual, hyper-local, meaningful messages and advertisements on their smartphones.

The typical scenario looks like this. A consumer carrying a smartphone walks into a store. Apps installed on a consumer’s smartphone listen for iBeacons. When an app hears an iBeacon, it communicates the relevant data (UUID, Major, Minor, Tx) to its server, which then triggers an action. This could be something as simple as a push message [“Welcome to Target! Check out Doritos on Aisle 3!”], and could include other things like targeted advertisements, special offers, and helpful reminders [“You’re out of Milk!”]. Other potential applications include mobile payments and shopper analytics and implementation outside of retail, at airports, concert venues, theme parks, and more. The potential is limitless.

This technology should bring about a paradigm shift in the way brands communicate with consumers. iBeacon provides a digital extension into the physical world. We’re excited to see where iBeacon technology goes in the next few years.

According to Re/code, MLB has finished installation of 65 iBeacon transmitters at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium and San Diego’s Petco Park. The professional baseball organization plans to have more than 20 parks equipped with the transmitters by Opening Day in late March.

To receive transmissions from the iBeacons, iPhone and iPad owners running iOS 7 can download the MLB At The Park app. The app will provide digital coupons, trigger video clips, and more. The organization plans to implement different features throughout the different parks. “Thirty clubs gives us the opportunity to work with clubs to customize based on their fans,” Adam Ritter, senior vice president of wireless MLB Advanced Media, said in an interview.

The iBeacon promises to open a whole new way to connect to consumers. So far, we’ve seen the technology implemented in Apple Stores, it is now part of Automatic’s Link service and could potentially be used to facilitate automatic payment at parking garages, and one tech company has started a magazine browsing kiosk service where iPad owners can actually read digital versions of magazines when within transmission range of the iBeacon.

MLB’s implementation of the iBeacon is sure to cause a stir and might be a great way to show off what the technology can really do.

Use of the iBeacon logo means that a Licensed Product has been designed and certified by the manufacturer to meet Apple performance standards. Apple is not responsible for the operation of this device or its compliance with safety and regulatory standards. Please note that the use of this product with iPod, iPhone, or iPad may affect wireless performance.

iPad, iPhone, iPod, and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. iBeacon is a trademark of Apple Inc.

Every day there seems to be a new device or beacon being launched – and confusing things further, the terms iBeacon, beacon and Bluetooth LE often seem interchangeable.

To try to make life slightly easier, this page is your resource and link list for the physical devices called ‘beacons’.

Definitions

First, however, a few simple definitions:

Beacons: A beacon is any device that transmits a signal which allows another device to determine its proximity to the broadcaster. In a store, a beacon lets a customer’s app determine that it’s close to the candy aisle. The beacon doesn’t transmit content, it simply transmits a signal that lets a user’s phone or tablet figure out what its proximity to the beacon. The content (a coupon, for example) is delivered separately to the user’s app.

Bluetooth Low Energy: This is the specification for one type of signal that beacons transmit. There are other types of signals that power beacons (e.g. audio signals) but Bluetooth LE has the advantage that it is low energy and is ‘native’ to most modern phones and tablets.

iBeacon: The term iBeacon and beacon are often used interchangeably. But iBeacon is a trademarked term by Apple that refers to the protocols, devices and uses of Bluetooth LE to create user experiences. Apple is vague about what it specifically means by an iBeacon. We take the definition to include the software protocols inside a user’s app, the use cases and user experiences, and the specifications that Apple requires of any beacon that can be called an iBeacon. They have not yet released those specifications.

Devices: The list below includes all devices that are capable of Bluetooth LE broadcasting. But a device can include other functionality. An iPhone, for example, can be programmed to act as a beacon. But it obviously does a whole lot more. Similarly, a beacon in a store can transmit Bluetooth LE signals, but they can also detect humidity, temperature, acceleration, or include modules for WiFi.

List of Bluetooth LE Devices

Accent Advanced Systems

iBks101 are one of a suite of products by Accent Advanced Systems. While we haven’t tested these snappy looking devices, they seem like they might be a nice option if all you need is a beacon around which to build a system (with many beacons the ‘back-end’ is included – whether you want it or not!)

The company advertises the beacons as being fully customizable, 2 year battery life, and secure password protected ODA firmware.

AIRCable USB Dongle

Not every beacon sticks to a wall. There are a range of options for USB beacons (plug one into a compatible cash register or store computer, for example) and AIRCable is one of them.

The AIRcable iBeacon is a BLE-Central device for making connections to Bluetooth Low Energy devices, read/write characteristics and broadcast dynamic information, e.g. as iBeacon. It is used by BLE developers as well as BLE automation software. The company also offers a BLE module to let you create your own dongle or Bluetooth LE device.

BlueCats

Made by Australian firm Plus Location Systems, these cat-shaped beacons use proprietary encryption, replaceable AA batteries and over-the-air remote management to make them easy to manage and maintain.

We haven’t had a chance to see their back-end system, but they advertise a full back-end analytics, enterprise system and SDK. And while the beacons look kind of cat-like, BlueCat refers to the concept of deploying beacons in categories (entrances, department, cash, etc.).

BlueSense Networks

In addition to providing kits you can use to create your own beacons, Bluesense Networks has a retail solution called the Bluebar – a snappy looking device that comes in kits of one, 2 and 5.

Built around the BlueGiga bluetooth module, the beacons run for two years on a single battery.

Estimote

The Estimote is perhaps one of the best-known beacons – a product, perhaps, more of timing and press coverage, but backed by a world-class team. With over 10,000 developer kits distributed since its launch in 2013, Estimote has stated its focus on providing software solutions to support its devices and on the retailer market.

Check Out:

The GeLo product are solid all-weather beacons that have the benefit of a resilient case and a standard set of batteries. But the promise of GeLo is a system for managing content through provision of a back-end content management system matched to your GeLo beacons.

While the system is still in the earliest iterations, GeLo has been deploying their beacons at museums, schools and other venues and provide a solid alternative for what we think of as requirements for ‘heavy lifting’.

Check Out:

Sensorberg beacons come with a full SDK and back-end system…and a free t-shirt if you buy the Ultimate Developer Kit. The company is positioning itself as a true “out of the box” experience for developers and retailers – and indicates that you can use other beacons (such as Estimote) to test out its back-end systems.

Sonic Notify

While Estimote was first to leverage the press around Apple’s launch of iBeacon, Sonic Notify was already deploying beacons and were perhaps first out of the gate with Bluetooth LE support.

Perhaps the biggest advantage of Sonic Notify is their support for older Android devices by combining Bluetooth LE signals with audio signals for phones that don’t have Bluetooth LE capabilities.

Check Out:

iBeacons with Android Support: Inside Sonic Notify
iBeacon at the Mall: Sonic Notify Inks Major Deal

Stick N’Find

Stick N Find was originally targeting the consumer market with beacons that acted similar to a Tile. But the company realized that the advanced work they had done on battery conservation and the algorithms they had built into their firmware could have a larger place in the market. They’ve since launched four beacons geared to the retail, industrial and other markets and are building support tools and kits for developers.

Bake Your Own Beacons

The above vendors provide a full-service stack for Bluetooth LE powered devices: they either provide back-end management of your beacons, software developer kits, or content management services.

But you can also create your own beacons from kits or chips. This is especially useful if you want to build your own service architecture and not rely on the ‘cloud services’ of another provider. This is by no means an exhaustive list but some links to get you started:

• COIN Arduino Developer Kits
• NetClearance Beacon Gateway Uses WiFi to Manage Beacon Firmware
• Low Energy Chips and Software from CSR
• Red Bear Labs BLE Frameworks and Kits
• KS Technologies Alpha Program
• Nordic Semiconductor Bluetooth LE

The Future of iBeacon

But where would we be if we didn’t imagine what’s coming next? For a hint of what’s around the corner, here are some products and concepts that we hope will make it to market.

• Hybrid Devices Are What’s Next
• Chocolate-Shaped Beacons with Modular Parts

Are we missing something? Please let us know and we’ll add it to the list. And if you’re looking to stay up-to-date on the world of beacons, join our once-a-week mailing list for information we don’t always share on the site.

But indoor spaces often block cell signals and also make it nearly impossible to locate devices via GPS. Beacons are a solution.

Beacons are a low-cost piece of hardware — small enough to attach to a wall or countertop — that utilise battery-friendly, low-energy Bluetooth connections to transmit messages or prompts directly to a smartphone or tablet. They are poised to transform how retailers, event organisers, transit systems, enterprises, and educational institutions communicate with people indoors. Consumers might even want to deploy them as part of home automation systems.

In a new report from BI Intelligence, we explain what beacons are, how they work, and how Apple — with its iBeacon implementation — is championing this new paradigm for indoor mobile communication. We also take a look at the barriers in the way of widespread adoption.

Access The Full Report And Data By Signing Up For A Free Trial Today »

Here are some of our findings:

• In-store retail and offline payments are in the first wave of beacon applications. Retail outlets are adopting beacons to provide customers with product information, flash sales or deals, and to speed up the checkout process with a completely contactless payments system.
• Consumers seem receptive to beacons as a way to enhance their in-store shopping experience. Half of American adults already utilise their mobile devices in stores. Consumers could also use them to inexpensively automate their homes. For example, beacons could turn on lights in a room as soon as someone with a smartphone has entered them, or open doors or window shades.
• But there’s a barrier to wide adoption of beacon technology: several layers of permissions. Customers have to turn on Bluetooth, accept location services on the relevant app and opt-in to receive in-store or indoor notifications.
• People are confused about Apple iBeacon because it has yet to take a true physical form. Apple hasn’t manufactured a physical beacon. Instead, Apple’s iBeacon is built into its devices and iOS7 mobile operating system. Already, 200 million iOS devices can already serve as transmitters and receivers. But third-party manufacturers have built beacons that can send iBeacon messages to Apple devices.
• The beacon wars are heating up. PayPal and Qualcomm are gearing up to challenge Apple with beacon hardware of their own. Smaller vendors like Estimote, Swirl, and GPShopper are entering the mix with beacon management and consulting on top of hardware or software platforms.
• The applications go beyond retail: We expect beacons to be deployed all over airports and ground transit hubs so that notifications on departures, delays, and gate and platform assignments can be delivered instantly to passenger phones.

The report has charts and data that can be easily downloaded and put to use.

In full, the report:

• Makes the case that beacons will take off once a handful of major retailers roll them out.
• Includes the points-of-view of executives at several start-up beacon-focused firms.
• Dives into the data on consumer attitudes toward location-based notifications, and whether beacon-powered alerts will be welcomed or resisted.
• Lists many of the possible applications for beacons, and how some large retailers and organisations have already tried them.
• Explains why beacons powered by Bluetooth low energy is much more effective than Wi-Fi or GPS for powering notifications indoors.
• Breaks down Apple’s innovative strategy of making all of its devices potential receivers and transmitters in any implementation.

For full access to the report on Beacons sign up for a free trial subscription today »

The Associated Press has reported that, today, Apple will roll out iBeacon connectivity across 254 U.S. retail stores. This near field location tracking service makes it possible for Apple to send you notifications about products while you are looking at them in the store.

The Associated Press was recently invited to demonstrate iBeacon technology in Apple’s Fifth Avenue retail store in New York City. Apple has installed 20 iBeacon transmitters throughout the store. As customers browse the showroom floor, they will receive notifications regarding iPhone upgrades, accessory possibilities, and even whether your device is ready to be picked up from the Genius Bar.

Users must have the Apple Store app installed and give permission to track them and receiving notifications. Then, when the user walks into an Apple retail store, the technology will activate.

Services include the ability to notify you when your gadget is ready to be picked up, special offers on in-store purchases, and even the ability to check the status of your iPhone for upgrade availability and to see whether you can get money for trading in your old one.

Once Apple shows off what iBeacon can do, it is sure to catch on with retailers. This near field location tracking works better than GPS because it can zero in more closely with a shopper’s location. GPS doesn’t recognize when you are five feet from the front entrance of a store. Nor does it have the ability to track you inside of buildings.

This technology could be very useful for large scale buildings like airports and malls. It could also be useful for helping students figure out how to get from one part of a college campus to another. Of course, retailers will love being able to offer immediate sales to consumers who happen to be passing by the coat section.

As iBeacon becomes more common, we will be able to see what kinds of services people connect to it.

Our recent move to Indigo home automation software showed us there’s already some imaginative work being done here.  Two Indigo add-ons use the presence of a smartphone on your home’s Wi-Fi network as an indication that an individual is present (check out the Smartphone Radar and Fing plugins).

But how about going a step further.  How about using our smartphones to tell which room we’re in, not just which house.  What we need is more than just geofencing, we need a high resolution ‘interior GPS’ for some indoor mapping.

At Apple’s iOS 7 announcement back in June there was the briefest of glimpses of a new SDK feature on one of their slides called “iBeacons”.

The system relies on Bluetooth Low Energy devices (also know as BLE, Bluetooth 4.0 or Bluetooth Smart) for calculating micro location data employing little 2.4Mhz transmitters at key locations around a building.  Your smartphone or other device automatically picks up the signal from these iBeacons and can calculate relative position or trigger contextual actions.  There’s still next to no information available on Apple’s main website but here’s a quote from their developer section….

While the majority of chatter has been about iBeacon implementation in the retail/payments and interactive tours sectors there are certainly interesting applications for the smart home.

Apple is expected to make the iBeacon protocol public soon but in the meantime there are commercially available hardware units on sale already.  An example is the ‘mote’ from Estimote, another tech startup from Poland.  A quick search turned up a schematic and downloadable firmware for this DIY iBeacon too.  Both these units will be able to run for more than 2 years on a single coin cell battery.

We found the video below which appears to be an Apple briefing to developers on the new iBeacon features.  From it we learn that when your iBeacon aware app is in the background it can perform “Region Monitoring”, presumably a less granular location service.  When the app is in the foreground or when you wake your iPhone then Apple’s Core Location service can use “Ranging” for a more accurate estimate of how far you are away from the nearest beacon.  This is based on signal strength and the results will put your location relative to the beacon into one of these three states – Immediate (approx 10 centimetres away), Near (approx 2 – 3 metres away), Far (approx 5 – 70 metres away).  CoreMotion also takes advantage of the new M7 chip inside the latest iPhone 5s.

But what about the majority of the worlds smartphone users that are carrying Android handsets?  While Google have been betting on Near Field Communication (NFC) up to now, they’ve added native support for BLE to the latest Android version 4.3.  But this will need work before it has the equivalent of the iOS7 features.  While iBeacons aren’t as cheap as NFC tags they are affordable – the Estimote units mentioned above are currently selling for around £60 for a set of three and who knows how low this can drop over time.

Any compatible Bluetooth LE iPhone or iPad can be a iBeacon transmitter too and Apple has already begun using one implementation of BLE iBeacons with the new ‘bump‘ setup for the Apple TV.  This shows how the system can mimic some of NFC’s proximity features as well as offer a much greater variety of functions – all from a single technology.  Googles superiority in cloud services isn’t in doubt though, so if it can get a competing system off the ground and can link it to an interior version of the ubiquitous Google Maps then it would be a major threat to the Apple system.

If it all works out then it’s possible to see a time in the future where you could walk out of one room, have your TV show paused and as you walk into the next room have it continue on from where you left off.  Energy savings from automated lighting and heating would be a big area of interest too but the logic required for this sort of thing isn’t as trivial as it might seem.  That said, companies like Idratek are working on the sorts of algorithms that could use iBeacons to produce these intelligent and autonomous actions.

There are bound to be issues here though.  Will the system think you are in the lounge when you’re actually in the bedroom above or the kitchen next door?  Will merely adding more iBeacons round the home increase accuracy and solve this issue?  What about enrolling visitors to the house onto the system?  What if we leave our phone in one room and walk to another (if only Apple was developing a wearable device, like a watch or something).  And won’t this all just turn into a new vector for spam, with a new ad pinging us every time we walk past a shop?

The new 802.11ah Wi-Fi standard is due in 2015 / 2016 which has been designed to support the sort of sensor networks suited to Home Automation.  Will this provide a multitude of ‘free’ beacons built into our Internet of Things for a more accurate triangulation setup?  We’ll know more about iBeacons by this time next year, but whatever happens it’s clear there are interesting times ahead. Let us know what you think in the comments below.

apple.com   :   bluetooth.org   :   estimote.com   :   gelosite.com

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