Beacons technology is a relatively new solution with enormous possibilities. Beacons are small devices that operate on a similar principle to RFID tags. Their characteristic feature is the method of communication, because they use BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), with low energy consumption, which means that the tags can work on one battery for up to 2 years.
Why is Beacon Technology so amazing? The first characteristic feature of this type of systems is the ability to set any transmitting range, e.g. one transmitter can send a signal at a distance of up to 100 meters, the other at a distance of several centimeters. Beacons send a signal directly to mobile phones. The technology is supported by devices with iOS7 and Android 4.3 systems and Bluetooth 4.0, which means that it now covers almost all smartphones. It is also equipped with a proximity function, which allows you to determine the exact distance of the smartphone from the transmitter.
All these features make Beacons technology most frequently used for marketing purposes. It has great potential from the very beginning. An example may be a customer (who has applications of a given store) walking along the store aisles. When he comes within a set distance to a given product, he will receive a personalized push notification on his phone, encouraging him to make a purchase. The large operating range of the transmitters can also greet customers entering the store or, for example, while walking through a shopping mall, encourage them to visit a specific store.
An interesting application of Beacons technology is also interactive sightseeing. While visiting museums, people approaching exhibits equipped with transmitters will receive detailed information about them on their smartphone screens. It can also inform people nearby about upcoming shows at the zoo.
There are many applications of beacon technology, it is also being used in restaurants (informing that new customers have arrived at the table), in tracking objects, including children (e.g. informing that a child on the beach has moved too far away from us), or in navigation to specific places such as gates at airports or ticket offices at train stations. This technology is young and will certainly be further developed and used more often.