Advertisment

Bluetooth Smart unveiled as magic behind beacons

author-image
Harmeet
New Update

KIRKLAND, USA: Bluetooth Smart, the low-energy consuming, intelligent sensor technology developed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), is the magic behind several payment and marketing trials being adopted by processors and retailers alike.

Advertisment

Beacons powered by Bluetooth Smart technology make the promise of a mobile wallet, mobile couponing, and location-based services possible. Consumers should expect their in-store experience to look and feel completely different by the end of 2014.

"In 2014, Parks Associates expects Bluetooth to play a much larger role in the mobile wallet ecosystem," said Jennifer Kent, senior analyst, Parks Associates. "Not only does Bluetooth Smart have support from major players like PayPal and Apple, but it also enables three crucial mobile wallet functions: payment from mobile phone to point-of-sale terminal, passive transmission of marketing messages, and the ability to detect consumers' location in-store."

Retailers and brands alike have been experimenting with push marketing for years, but the technology and support from major phone manufacturers was lacking. Bluetooth Smart brings three essential features to the beacon experience: an intelligent wireless connection that can authenticate and manage interactions; an extremely power-efficient connection that doesn't drain the user's phone battery; and ubiquitous support from phone manufacturers and mobile operating systems.

Beacons powered by Bluetooth Smart just work with the devices consumers already have, making it a reliable and cost-effective solution for stores and brands.

semicon