estimote beacons - world most popular ibeacon implementation
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Presentation about Estimote Beacons - world most popular iBeacon implementation prepared for CocoaHeads TricityTRANSCRIPT
Estimote Beacons World most popular iBeacon implementation Mateusz Klimczak
Agenda � iBeacons � Bluetooth Low Energy � Estimote Beacons � Potential uses � Potential problems � Alternatives to Estimote � Development – get started
What is iBeacon? � Apple Trademark for an indoor
positioning system � Extends Location Services in iOS � Your device alert apps when you approach
or leave a location with an iBeacon � Designed for building location/context-
aware applications
What iBeacon is not? � iBeacon is not a device nor is it a software
application � iBeacon is nothing more than a set of
services (APIs) that operate between operating system (OS) and apps
iBeacons characteristics � Almost all of the logic for iBeacon is done
by the supporting application on the device
� The only role of the iBeacon is to advertise to the phones of its own existence at the physical location
� iBeacon do not actively push out notifications nor track nearby users - the application on the phone must handle that logic
iBeacon compability � Compatible with Bluetooth Low Energy
(BLE) devices: � iOS7: iPhone 4S+, iPad 3+, iPad Mini 1+,
iPod Touch 5+ � Android 4.3+ � Mac computers with OS X Mavericks (10.9)
iOS 7.1 boost � The biggest improvement is the ability of
the operating system to detect iBeacons even when an iBeacon-compatible app is shut down
� Earlier it was possible only when application was working in background
� The functionality persist even when the device is rebooted
Bluethooth low energy � Bluetooth 4.0 – nothing like his older brother � Compared to „Classic” Bluetooth, BLE is
intended to provide considerably reduced power consumption while maintaining a similar communication range
� Originally introduced under the name Wibree by Nokia in 2006. It was merge into the main Bluetooth standard in 2010
� AKA Bluetooth Smart
iBeacon (BLE) vs NFC
iBeacon (BLE) NFC
Range Up to 100 m (Estimote handles up to 70 m)
Up to 20 cm (optimal range is < 4cm)
Price $5 - $35 per beacon $0.10 - $0.60 per tag
Passive mode No Yes
Apple support Yes No
iBeacon (BLE) vs NFC
iBeacon (BLE) vs NFC � While BLE and NFC are both wireless
communication technologies, each is designed to serve different need and functions
� But since Apple is not supporting NFC (and probably will never do) iBeacons may be the only way to implement mobile payments…
Estimote Beacon � Small, wireless device which broadcast
tiny radio signals to smart devices � Smartphones that are in range are able to
'hear' these signals and estimate their location, as well as to communicate with the beacon
� Developed by Polish startup from Cracow � More than 20k developers worldwide
Estimote construction � Built-in:
� 2.4 GHz Bluetooth Low Energy radio � Thermometer � Accelerometer
� Sticky back side (Gecko) � Silicon cover � Lithium battery
Potential uses � Micromarketing � Payments � Sport � Transport � Loyalty programs � Virtual guides � And many others – it is limited only by our
imagination
Potential uses by Estimote
Another potential use
Everytap � Loyalty program invented by PituPitu � Earn points for buying products in
restaurants, clubs, pubs, etc. � Spend these points to get free ones! � All you need to do after transaction ist o put
your phone next to barman's Estimote Beacon (NFC like)
Potential problems � Risk of spamming users � Security threads (more about it later) � Bluetooth must be turned on � Mobile app required � Distance estimation is poor � From iOS7.1 occurs a problem - sometimes
iBeacons just stop being visible until we restart the device – so we are very platform dependent
Security problems � Unprotected read/write! � Everything that our Beacon broadcast
can be read by anyone and anyone can write to our Beacon!
� This makes it barely usable in production � Estimote announced that they will
implement security measures in the beginning of January… few weeks ago they released SDK 2.0 and there is still nothing
Alternatives � Kontakt.io
� Also from Cracow
� Boni � Roximity iBeacon � And many more � Various development states
Why is Estimote most popular?
� Contacts � One of first companies to produce
beacons � Attractive appearance, marketing, etc.
Developer kit � 99$ for 3 beacons
Development – configuration 1. Get SDK – using CocoaPods!
� Dependency manager for objective-c � How to use:
https://github.com/CocoaPods/CocoaPods � Searching for Pods:
http://cocoapods.org/
Development – configuration 2. Add required frameworks to your project
� CoreBluetooth.framework � CoreLocation.framework � SystemConfiguration.framework
Development – configuration 3. Add Background Modes in your project
Capabilities: � Uses Bluetooth LE accessories � Acts as a Bluetooth LE accessory � Background fetch � Remote notifications
Development – lets code! � Implement ESTBeaconManagerDelegate � Add ESTBeaconManager � Add ESTBeaconRegion
Development – lets code! � Initialize beacon manager � Initialize beacon region � Start ranging beacons in region
Development – lets code! � Implement beaconManager
didRangeBeacons inRegion method � Handle your beacons!
Development – lets code! � Do not forget to stop looking for beacons
when you no longer need them
The end � Thank you for your attention! � Any questions?