What Are Beacons?

People compare them to lighthouses, and they are right - a beacon repeatedly transmits a single signal that other devices can see.

That signal is transmitted with regular intervals approximately every 1/10th of second. Bluetooth-enabled devices can receive info from the beacon once they are in its range.

What is inside of a beacon?

Beacons are extremely straightforward. They basically consist only of CPU, radio and batteries.

How to interact with beacons?

Imagine that you are in a shopping center and some shops have installed beacons. Each beacon will have certain IDs registered in your dedicated app and keep sending its unique signal. When you are near a beacon you receive ID and your app knows that incoming ID is from particular shop. And what's next ? It depends on how application is programmed. One code could send you an add, another could offer you navigation services.

Nice examples of use

We are going to the latest exhibition in out favorite museum. We buy a ticket take our phone and start tour! Going through the exhibits one by one we pick up that signals from next beacons. Our phone app gives us interesting information about exhibit next to us immediately! No guides, no (audio)books, no problem!

What about tracking?

Beacons are incredibly misunderstood. They are not tracking you. They’re not interested in that. They're just broadcasting a signal.

What is beacon used for?

• Retail
• Events
• Education
• Offices
• Culture
• Hospitality
• Airports