Open Source Beacons

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Google's Eddystone is an Open BLE Beacon Format That Can Communicate Privately

— July 15, 2015 — Tech
Google recently announced Eddystone -- open source beacons that will provide some competition for Apple's iBeacon.

The bluetooth beacon platform is both open source and cross platform, which means the small battery-powered devices will be compatible with iOS, Android and other devices. The bluetooth low energy (BLE) beacons can trigger actions when a smartphone or tablet device similar to other beacons, similar to the technology that is already in use by many retailers.

However, instead of broadcasting a unique message publicly, Google announced Eddystone has a way of communicating privately to particular individuals. Ephemeral Identifiers (EIDs) enables beacons to send a signal that only "authorized clients" can identify. A possible application of EIDs is secure luggage identification or finding lost keys.

Trend Themes

  1. Open Source Beacons — Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop new applications for open source beacons that can communicate privately.
  2. Cross Platform Compatibility — Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create devices and software that can seamlessly connect and interact across different platforms.
  3. Ephemeral Identifiers — Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore secure identification and communication systems using ephemeral identifiers.

Industry Implications

  1. Retail — Disruptive innovation opportunity: Implement open source beacon technology to enhance customer experiences and improve in-store navigation.
  2. Hospitality — Disruptive innovation opportunity: Utilize open source beacons to personalize guest experiences and provide seamless connectivity throughout hotels and resorts.
  3. Transportation — Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop secure identification and tracking systems using open source beacons for luggage, keys, and other valuable items.
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