This document discusses how beacons and proximity-aware mobile apps work together. Beacons are Bluetooth transmitters that can uniquely identify and determine the proximity of nearby mobile devices. Proximity-aware mobile apps can detect when a mobile device enters or exits the signal range of a beacon and present location-based content. Examples are provided of how beacons could be used in retail stores, museums, hospitals, and other locations to enhance user experiences through proximity-aware mobile apps.

1. Building Proximity-Aware
Apps with Beacons
David Helms
Chief Product Officer
Radius Networks, Inc.
@davidhelms
@radiusnetworks

2. It’s the Internet of Things!
Get out from behind the glass
with proximity-aware mobile
apps!

3. What’s a proximity-aware
mobile app?
A proximity-aware mobile app
presents content or executes
procedures when it nears a place
or a thing.

4. What is a beacon?
● Bluetooth v4.0 Low Energy
transmitter
● Used to mark a place or a
thing
● Compatible mobile devices
can uniquely identify and
determine proximity to a
beacon
● Typical range of 25m to 40m

5. What information does a
beacon transmit?
Beacon advertisements contain…
● Identifier - Represents a specific
place or thing
● Measured Power Value - Represents
the signal strength of the beacon at
1m distance.

6. How do proximity-aware
mobile apps use
beacons?
● The mobile app must specify
the beacons to be monitored
● App will be notified of region
enter and region exit events,
even when the app is in the
background or terminated.
● Can range for proximity zone
while in region by comparing
actual signal strength to
measured power value.

7. What mobile devices
work with beacons?
● Apple iPhones, iPads & iPod
Touches
○ Bluetooth 4.0 hardware support
○ iOS 7 or higher
● Android phones & tablets
○ Bluetooth 4.0 hardware support
○ Android 4.3 Jelly Bean or higher

8. Is user privacy protected
when using beacons?
● Users have legitimate concerns about
the use of their location information.
● Beacons are transmit-only and do not
receive or collect signals from mobile
devices.
● The use of beacons is inherently opt-in
and requires users to take affirmative
steps to allow proximity-aware apps to
use their location information.

9. Beacons are inherently
opt-in.
1. Users must decide to keep
Bluetooth enabled on their mobile
device.
2. Users must choose to install a
proximity-aware mobile app on their
device.
3. Users must explicitly agree to allow
a proximity-aware mobile app to use
their location information.

10. Are there different kinds
of beacons?
● iBeacon is the most popular beacon
type. Defined by Apple for use with
iOS mobile devices.
● AltBeacon is a complementary,
open-source alternative introduced
by Radius Networks for non-iOS
mobile devices.
future iBeacon alternatives ?
● Other major mobile vendors hint at

11. What is a multi-beacon?
● Multi-beacons solve the fragmentation
problem of multiple, incompatible beacon
advertisement types.
● A multi-beacon transmits multiple beacon
advertisement formats concurrently.
● Proximity services are delivered equally to
iOS and Android devices.
● RadBeacons from Radius Networks are multi-beacons
supporting both iBeacon and
AltBeacon.

12. Let’s see some real
beacons.
● RadBeacon from Radius Networks
○ USB powered
○ Coin-cell battery powered
○ AA battery powered
● Other beacon providers
○ Estimote
○ Gimbal
○ Kontakt
○ ...and lots more

13. What’s the future of
beacons & proximity
technologies?
● Corporate market
○ Beacon deployments > 10,000
units
○ Powered and long-life battery
○ Ruggedized & weatherproof
○ Remote monitoring &
configuration
● Consumer market
○ Cheap / Disposable
○ Unmanaged
● Integration into traditional
equipment
○ Wi-Fi access point hotspots
○ Point-of-sale terminals
○ Fuel dispensers
○ Self-service kiosks
● More iBeacon alternatives
● Long-range Bluetooth beacons
● NFC beacons

14. What’s up with Radius
Networks?
Campaign & Content Management
Cloud Platform Services
Beacon Fleet Management
Cloud Platform Services
Radius Networks makes the
mobile proximity technologies,
tools and services that help
developers, designers and digital
marketers deliver magical
solutions to their users. The World’s Best Beacons
Mobile Proximity Developer Tools
Mobile Proximity SDKs

15. At the shop
Reward customers with loyalty
points and special offers.
Provide efficient, alternative ways
to request assistance and pay for
purchases.

16. At the museum
Personalize each exhibit
experience based on the museum
visitor’s age and interests.

17. In the hospital
Present a patient’s chart to a
doctor or nurse upon entering
that patient’s room.

18. In the classroom
Log attendance and present
relevant study materials for class.

19. At the stadium
Offer in-game seat upgrades for
unused premium seats.
Create new sponsorship
opportunities for additional team
and venue revenue.

20. At the conference
Turn the show floor into an
interactive experience to
encourage foot traffic and
increase value to exhibitors.

21. On the train
Present an electronic ticket
automatically as the conductor
approaches.

22. In the airport
Receive a notification as your bag
is about to be delivered on the
carousel.

23. At the hotel
Prompt a personal greeting from
the hotel staff on the arrival of a
guest.
Present the option for self-service
registration and bypass the front
desk.

24. Building Proximity-Aware
Apps with Beacons
David Helms
Chief Product Officer
Radius Networks, Inc.
@davidhelms
@radiusnetworks