The feature, which made its appearance on iOS 7, can track consumers in-store to determine where they are and provide insight into what they could be doing in the Apple Store. December 6, 2013 6:22 AM PST (Credit: Roger Cheng/CNET) Apple's iBeacon will find its way to Apple Store customer pockets on Friday. Apple will start using the iBeacon feature built into iOS 7 to be a personal shopper for customers on Friday at its 254 stores across the US. As long as a user has Apple's official Store app installed and allows the program to track his or her location, it can provide insight into what they're near in the store, as well as provide order updates that can be shared with sales staff on the floor. Related stories Apple to start following you around its stores, report says Baseball's beacon trials hint at Apple's location revolution Bluetooth beacons coming to ballparks MLB tests Apple's iBeacon at Citi Field One of the more interesting tools Apple has built into iBeacon is the ability to determine upgrade eligibility on the iPhone. When near an iPhone, Apple's app will see if a person would like to upgrade to the newer version. The app will also check upgrade eligibility to determine if it's a feasible move right now. The Associated Press, which earlier reported on Apple's roll out, was given a tour of the features earlier this week. The news service says that Apple has installed iBeacon transmitters throughout its stores that can communicate with its software. Since the software is location- and context-aware, the app will provide shopping tips, product details, and other information, based on what a person is around. The iBeacon concept doesn't just begin and end up with Apple. Major League Baseball, for example, has already signed on to the iBeacon concept.
The feature, which made its appearance on iOS 7, can track consumers in-store to determine where they are and provide insight into what they could be doing in the Apple Store.
Apple's iBeacon will find its way to Apple Store customer pockets on Friday.
Apple will start using the iBeacon feature built into iOS 7 to be a personal shopper for customers on Friday at its 254 stores across the US. As long as a user has Apple's official Store app installed and allows the program to track his or her location, it can provide insight into what they're near in the store, as well as provide order updates that can be shared with sales staff on the floor.
Related stories
- Apple to start following you around its stores, report says
- Baseball's beacon trials hint at Apple's location revolution
- Bluetooth beacons coming to ballparks
- MLB tests Apple's iBeacon at Citi Field
One of the more interesting tools Apple has built into iBeacon is the ability to determine upgrade eligibility on the iPhone. When near an iPhone, Apple's app will see if a person would like to upgrade to the newer version. The app will also check upgrade eligibility to determine if it's a feasible move right now.
The Associated Press, which earlier reported on Apple's roll out, was given a tour of the features earlier this week. The news service says that Apple has installed iBeacon transmitters throughout its stores that can communicate with its software. Since the software is location- and context-aware, the app will provide shopping tips, product details, and other information, based on what a person is around.
The iBeacon concept doesn't just begin and end up with Apple. Major League Baseball, for example, has already signed on to the iBeacon concept.
