Mesh beacons set to replace iBeacons

Ubudu, based in Paris, is due to launch its first U.S. implementation of uBeacon Mesh, during the first part of next year.

The
current standard beacons, such as the iBeacon by Apple, operate by
shining a signal to advise you of your current location. These
devices are usually mounted on walls or ceilings, by retailers. The
beacon sends out small loads of data that send messages, such as ‘Hi,
I’m here’, with limited information describing its exact store
location. This message is ideal as the customer, when entering the
store, will have limited GPS positioning on a smartphone. An app on
the phone is able to transmit the data via a data network or Wi-Fi to
its server.

For
this information to be effective, the store requires expensive
networks, and the beacons can only be monitored and controlled within
that store.

Mesh
beacons are able to convert the current beacons into two-way
net-connected networks. The capabilities of mesh beacons would allow
a customer standing in an aisle to relay a brief message through the
smartphone app to the store, should they require assistance. It will
however, be necessary for customer phones to have Bluetooth 4.0.

In
both systems, coupon graphics and other components are based in the
app. The uBeacons are able to receive the information, such as
product info and pricing, through the mesh network and relay it to
the customer. It is not necessary for the customer to have cellular
data or Wi-Fi as is required with the standard beacons.

Retailers
can use a third-party app or create their own. The mesh networks can
be controlled through a browser-based dashboard. Ubudu provides both
the beacons and the server software.

Conventional
beacons transmit the same message at regular intervals, but the mesh
beacons transmit messages to various devices, such as smartphones and
other beacons.