Bluetooth beacons are small wireless transmitters that broadcast their identifier to nearby devices. They enable location-based use cases and proximity interactions. Bluetooth beacons are a key component of many Internet of Things (IoT) solutions.
What is a Bluetooth Beacon?
A Bluetooth beacon is a small wireless transmitter, usually battery-powered, that broadcasts a unique identifier at regular intervals. This identifier is picked up by nearby smartphones and tablets that have Bluetooth enabled.
Bluetooth beacons use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), also known as Bluetooth Smart, to transmit their signal. This allows them to operate for long periods (up to 2 years) on a standard coin cell battery.
The effective broadcast range of a beacon is typically up to 70 meters indoors and 300 meters outdoors. The actual range depends on the beacon’s broadcast power and the receiving device’s sensitivity.
Bluetooth beacon standards
There are several main Bluetooth beacon specifications:
- iBeacon – developed by Apple and used by iOS devices
- Eddystone – created by Google and supported across platforms
- AltBeacon – a cross-platform alternative to iBeacon
While each standard uses a slightly different format, they all function in a similar way. The key differences lie in how the identifiers are structured.
Use cases for Bluetooth beacons
Bluetooth beacons enable many practical applications through proximity detection and indoor positioning. Typical use cases include:
- Retail stores – to deliver location-based promotions to shoppers
- Museums – providing information about exhibits and artifacts
- Airports – for indoor navigation and wayfinding
- Offices – presence detection, workspace utilization monitoring
- Events – proximity-based interactions and information
Beacons allow businesses to detect customers near a point of interest and deliver contextual notifications and offers. They also support navigation and asset tracking use cases.
The future of Bluetooth beacons
Bluetooth beacons will continue to be an integral technology for IoT and location-aware applications. With increasing smartphone adoption, their potential will grow.
Apple and Google’s backing of the core standards ensures beacons have a stable base to build upon. Future developments may add new use cases through enhanced sensors and integration with other wireless technologies.