what's a beacon?

Also known as iBeacon, Bluetooth Low Energy, Bluetooth LE, BLE, BTLE or Bluetooth Smart, beacons are tiny devices that have a 1+ year battery life and near universal compatibility with smartphones. They send out tiny, low energy, short range signals (10' to 200'+). Signals that smartphones can hear and understand. Promoting action when those messages are received. The tech isn't about location... it is about proximity. That proximity equals nearness in location, time and relationship, analyzing context and enabling engagement when conditions are just right. The next wave of the 'net will use beacons. What some are calling one of the cornerstones of "The Internet of Everything" (IoE) or the "Internet of Things" (IoT)... beacons are about to become a very big deal. ABI research estimates there will be 30 billion devices entering the IoT ecosystem by 2020 and Cisco's CEO says that at a $19 Trillion value, the IoE will have 5 to 10 times the impact on society as the Internet itself. At BKON, we make Beacons and the software that makes them smarter. http://www.bkon.com