Beacon Development – K2B SOLUTIONS – Web Design & Mobile Apps Developement

Top 5 Trends of iOS Applications you need to know this 2017

k2B Admin — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 07:29:41 +0000

Are you an iOS developer? You can even be a iOS application user.

But you gotta know something that is waiting to hit your iOS platform. Aware of it already? No? Then have a look at this post.

iOS Applications are turning out to be the demanding aspects of the market. Though there are a lot of applications that come into the market day by day, iOS Apps mark their identity. At the same time iPhone Based Application Development is always a Sophisticated Technology.

It is half past 2017, yet these trends on applications have something for you even now. Wish to know what is trending with these iOS applications?

Let’s START.

The #5 Leading Trends of iOS Application:

#1 iBeacon Technology:

iBeacon is a popular term that revolves around these days. Do you think, what so interesting about iBeacon?

Let me explain you.

Do you have the experience of using a Bluetooth? Yes? How will it work? The device that you pair it over the Bluetooth connection, gets you connected. Once you connect you will be able to transfer information.

iBeacon is also one of a kind. It is a broadcast device used by the giant, Apple. The beacons are devices that report information at regular intervals.

These devices connect to the near by ports, the same way how a Bluetooth connects to the nearby ports. When the Bluetooth connectivity is ON, the ports that are around will receive an alert about the new port.

I could make it still better for your understanding. iBeacons are digital lighthouses. These state the nearby ports that are available shortline.

And this is how an iBeacon works. isn’t that something amazing on an iOS application?

Let’s discuss some more interesting facts that are available on iOS this 2017.

#2 Integration of Cloud Technology:

In recent days, people wish to take access to applications from anywhere and anytime.

Understanding the pain points of users developers have started to develop cloud apps.

We are aware that there are around 90% of people using smart phones. And you cannot even imagine a person without a smart phone.

These smart phones come with integrated cloud apps. Using these cloud apps on smart phones it is easy to access and corporate data via iPhones.

Most companies have started to make use of the cloud technology. This allows them to stay connected with their employees. Yet, security lacks behind.

Developers are working to develop applications that are secure and easy to access.

#3 Security:

In common, iOS applications are well known for their security. They can perform better than any other devices.

In spite, when it comes to cloud based storage, users fear the quality of security that it provides.

At the instance, applications arrive the market with a big bang. Still, users try to find the one that is secure.

And that is why iOS applications have come up with some of the security based applications.

An analysis reported, 75% of mobile apps weren’t able to meet the basic security needs. To remove this stain, the developers had to learn the standards of iOS.

Later, the developers came up with some improvised security apps for iOS devices. They found applications that could provide security in a better way. At the same time, the developers were sure to analyze that these apps do not cover more space.

The following are the few security based iOS applications that stand 4 on rating,

Look out
1Password
NordVPN
Keeply

On analysis, these apps rated 4 and above. Which means these apps perform better and many have tried it. Why not you give a try?

#4 More Free Apps:

Mobile Applications are Renovating the face of Technology and the Modern World.

There would be more productive for apps in the upcoming days. Applications developed for e-Commerce or even gaming companies are always free apps.

Engineers depend more on advertising inside the application itself to make their benefits. The importance of free applications takes higher proportion in the market.

#5 Significance of Mobile Commerce:

The entire article has a complete impact on mobile devices. Moreover, the market is wide enough to greet and invite app developers.

A special credit to the beacon technology which improved the number of mobile users. It is so true that many appreciated the secure system have paved way to place orders and make payments.

It is the abruptness over simplicity that impresses users. Isn’t it?

Here is where the app developers have their greatest part. Are you one among them, building some of the innovative apps like the beacon. Then you are on the right track to hit the million dollar opportunities.

If you are someone who is looking out for a job change within the technical field. Then you should try app development for sure.

As users show more interest towards mobile applications. And there is a huge need for application development, It is a great chance for app developers to empower.

CONCLUSION:

Have you ever come across all these trending factors before?

Then try to understand that there is always something that trends. Indeed, there are many new inventions on applications yet to arrive and even disruptions either. There are rumors around and yet Apple is always certain about its releases on iOS devices.

Being an App developer, you should never miss one. If you are looking out to consistently for an upgrade, hope this post would give you a lot more than you expect. If you stay ahead of new technologies you stay relevant and spotted in the field with the highest in demand.

Now grab the chance of being the leading iOS developer in the market with the knowledge on latest trends of iOS applications.

Have I missed any of the trends that iOS has launched or practicing this past 2017?

Then let me know through your comments.

The Beacon War – Know what is a iBeacon, a Eddystone and a AltBeacon

k2B Admin — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 11:09:26 +0000

Mobiles are becoming an integral part of the human being system as it helps in many ways. Nowadays, people spend most of their time indoor because of the smartphone and related gadgets. But the indoor spaces are blocking the signals making tough to locate devices via GPS. This is the place where beacons play a life-saving role.

Everyone loves beacon but why?

Powered by a small battery, Beacons are tiny devices that use the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) signals to transmit messages to mobile devices with a short distance or proximity of the beacon. Its usage is being widely adopted in almost every industry in which the retailers are using it to the core to send discounts to their customer when they enter the proximity range. Many large stores and even malls are using beacons to help the customers with in-store maps to helps them navigate easily inside the store. In simple words, beacon technology connects the physical world to the digital. For deploying a beacon, there are nearly three parts namely:

Beacon hardware – a tiny Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) transponders
Web application – an application with required information which connects the beacons and the content
Mobile application – A iOS or an Android application that connects to the beacon

Beacons has different types of specification, and the major are:

iBeacon
Eddystone
AtlBeacon

What is an iBeacon?

Apple Inc. has always been an innovator in bringing new technologies to the market and the same happened with Beacon. It introduced a new beacon specification called as the iBeacon for the implementation of BLE wireless technology. It is used to create a location based information sharing system that helps industry share relevant information with their esteemed customers. iBeacon specification works on devices iOS or later i.e. iPhone 4s or later, iPad 3rd generation or later, iPad Mini and iPod Touch 5th generation or later. It is also compatible with devices running on Android 4.3 or later.

Every information shared through the iBeacon specification contains the following three:

UUID
Major ID
Minor ID

Learn More: iBeacon – A device that helps nearby people with required information

What is Eddystone?

How will the search giant be quite when they see their competitor is playing around the future technology? Google came out with its very own beacon profile called as the Eddystone. So, what is an Eddystone? It is a beacon specification that functions as same as what an iBeacon does. The real difference is that it is open source and cross platform. The Eddystone versioned profile has many frame types like:

Eddystone-UID
Eddystone-URL
Eddystone-TLM

It is commonly referred as the Google’s alternative to Apple’s iBeacon. Eddystone is both Android and iOS compatible, and it connects the real world and the beacons.

Learn More: Google Beacon “Eddystone” – The Lighthouse of Your Business

What is AltBeacon?

A couple of years back, Radius Network launched a new standard for beacon called as the AltBeacon which is becoming as the de facto standards for the developers as it gives complete freedom to develop apps for the proximity beacons. Since AltBeacon is an open specification, it can be used to unleash its potential across various platforms from Android, iOS, Windows, etc. The CEO, Marc Wallace said,

AltBeacon is released under creative commons (CC) license. It does the following two things that are has attracted many:

It can be used to define a robust specification for device transmission.
It has a suite of tools that can be used to develop application that listens to beacons.

So, what is the difference between the three specifications?

As said earlier, beacons are transmitters that broadcast messages in intervals to the nearby smart devices within its proximity. The primary difference between the three are as follows:

AltBeacons and the iBeacons offer mobile apps the space to listen to the signals from the beacon devices.
The major advantage of the AltBeacon is that it can have different manufacturer IDs and beacon codes. But, the iBeacons broadcast only one type of data and a unique ID number.
iBeacons are native only for the iOS but compatible for both iOS and Android. Whereas the Eddystone is native for both Android and iOS.
With one byte of reserved data at the end, the AltBeacon holds specific manufacturer information in it.
Eddystone broadcasts three different types of packets: Eddystone UID, Eddystone URL, and Eddystone TLM which helps to transfer any data.

Beacons are revolutionizing every industry especially the retail market where the retailers are using these tiny devices to grow their business. It is considered to be the first step towards the Internet of Things (IoT). Mobile application development industry is leveraging to adopt to the beacons market making the beacon war more competitive.

A Beautifully Refreshing perspective about iBeacons in retail industry

k2B Admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 05:11:44 +0000

The mobile technology is advancing to a new level day-after-day making sure the future is secure in our hands every day. Along with mobile technology, the Internet of Things (IoT) is wrapping almost everything with its advanced functionalities. The momentum has never gone down since Apple Inc. launched its beacon device called as “iBeacons,” a software protocol that transmits messages to the nearby Bluetooth enabled devices with the help of a tiny device called as beacons.

What is an iBeacon?

As said earlier, iBeacon is a software protocol that handles and transfers packets available in a small device called as a beacon. It uses a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) signal to transmit messages to the available Bluetooth-enabled iPhones and iPads. iOS 7 and more supports iBeacon signals and acts as a host to send and receive messages.

To know more about iBeacon, read our previous article on iBeacon – A device that helps nearby people with required information

The Numbers – iBeacon’s achievements in retail industry so far:

A couple of years back when Apple Inc. launched its first beacon protocol, called as iBeacons and it was in a no-clue state of the reach and popularity. Now, the beacon technology is doing miracles in almost every single industry. Here are some of the researched stats that show the real popularity of iBeacons in this connected world.

In the past one year, nearly 72% people received shopping-related beacon triggered notifications.
In that 72%, almost 91% of the people said that they open or read it regularly.
87% of the people in the read list have purchased at least once with the help of the notifications.
For the enough value of money in return, 79% of the people are willing to share their location based information.
The retailer’s mobile app is almost used by 80% of the people when they are in-store.

Let the fear out – iBeacons are safe:

iBeacons are now becoming the best marketing tool for almost every industry especially the retail market. But, the best has the worst side too. It has its limitations and also, threaten little privacy which the marketers need to address.

Spam – only related messages:
Most of the customers or general audience think the iBeacons transfer unwanted spam messages. The real fact is they act just as a trigger and cannot directly deliver the message. Moreover, the user downloaded retailer app only provides the notification. Beacons can only work with the application that has been designed to work with.
No Hassel – easy to install in the existing system:
It is very easy to integrate the iBeacon protocol into an existing system i.e. applications that run on mobile platforms. For the businesses that don’t have a mobile app, it is easy to use iBeacons with the help of Apple’s Passbook.
No Worries – will not track exact movements:
There is nothing to worry as the beacons can only track users proximity i.e. it can only identify how far is the user from the device and not the exact location of the user’s presence. And in the indoor navigation system, the navigation guidance is given with the help of the distance between the beacons installed in the shop and not the location specifications.
No Leak – safe to use and share information:
iBeacons has nothing to do with the user related information. The information that user shares with the mobile app that he/she installed is only available in the database, that too only on the apps database and not in the iBeacons database.
No Android – has no restrictions:
iBeacon devices work on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology and can be accessed from any Bluetooth enable devices that run on any mobile platform like Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone, etc. Even Mac OS X, Windows, Linux devices that have Bluetooth 4.0 can access this facility.

What are the recent happenings and what is the future of iBeacons in retail?

iBeacons have opened up many possibilities creating a special way to enhance the future. Here are some of the most significant happening that is sure to hit the retail industry by a storm.

iBeacons are sure to be used by retail industry for Big data.
iBeacons are being integrated with LED bulbs to cut short cost.
iBeacons are used in almost every Apple stores in the United States of America.
iBeacons are in the mode to track people’s approximate location to help save them if they are in any critical or danger situation.

Pete Coleman said, “Point Inside partners with Top 100 retailers to enhance the way they communicate and engage with their shoppers – who overwhelmingly prefer to complete their purchases in physical stores.” The future of iBeacons looks bright and broad.

Author-bio: K2B Solutions, the top-notch web design company in India, have expertise in PHP, Android, iOS, eCommerce, WordPress and more technologies. We have a very good expert team of qualified professionals who provide customized and quality web and mobile app services to our global clients.

Why to hire a beacon application development company for retailer industry?

k2B Admin — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 07:06:53 +0000

New things always have a hype as they promise improvements to the society and the people living around. One thing that made a huge turnover in 2015 was the beacon devices. They started playing a very vital role in the improvement of the Information Technology (IT) infrastructure and also in the enlargement of business ideas. Even though Apple Inc. launched their first beacon device in 2013, the devices took control of many companies only in late 2014 and the whole of 2015. A couple of months back Google launched its very own beacons named as Eddystone after the name of a British lighthouse. It shows many improvements like a separate module to monitor the battery status of the beacon device. Still the beacons are getting stabilized, and many companies and institutions have started using it as they unleash multiple opportunities and will be the best in the Internet of Things (IoT) lineup.

What is a Beacon?

A beacon is a small device that operates on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology. It transmits information in the form of small packets to the nearby Bluetooth enable devices. The information can be anything like a customized message to the buyers about discounted offers. A message is triggered only when a Bluetooth enabled Smartphone hits in the hotspot of the beacon. There are two major versions of beacons namely iBeacon from the tech giant, Apple Inc. and Eddystone from the search giant, Google. You can have a look at the difference between the two in our previous article, “iBeacon Vs Eddystone: Transmission war between the small yet powerful devices”

Why beacons for business?

Many major business and even small retailers have started using beacons and apps for their business as the small devices promised a compiled return on investment (ROI). Enterprises starting from McDonalds to Virgin Airlines are using beacons actually to help their customers benefit from their services. The cost to implement beacons devices and software are not much as the beacon device cost falls around $20 to $40. Studies suggest that implementation matching best practices is sure to turn high ROI. Beacons help is recording customer activities with which the business can target customers with customized offers.

Why hire a beacon application development company for retailer industry solutions?

As stated earlier, beacons are becoming a promising device as they help retailers and other industries to achieve great ROI. In the retail industry, the offline payment with the assistance of beacons turned the people thought about mobile payments. Since more than 85% of the younger generation use Smartphone, retailers industry started targeting those youngsters. They started using the beacon apps inside the store to shop the desired products with discounted rates.

The role of beacons in retailer industry is vital and even a minute mistake in the mobile application might result in a massive data loss. Here are few points on why you should hire a professional beacon apps development company to develop a beacon mobile app for your retailer industry.

A professional beacon app development company has an expertise team to develop the app with utmost care.
They have a rigorous application testing process with real time scenario to make sure the end product comes out with the expected or sometimes more than the expected quality.
They develop world class applications to impress your customers.
The developed applications have an excellent graphical user interface (GUI).
They provide best-in-the-industry and customer-centric applications.
They can include functionalities like indoor navigation, mobile marketing, micro-location targeting, and more advanced features.
Qualitative application maintenance

Google Beacon “Eddystone” – The Lighthouse of Your Business

k2B Admin — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 12:42:59 +0000

It has been more that two years since the Apple’s iBeacon was launched and from then they have never gone down in creating hype in the industry. Recently, many corporate of different scales (say small, medium and large size) and individuals started recognizing the real value and service these iBeacons offer. They are now in the peak as they are helping almost every industry starting from travel to health. Apple has done like how they always do.

What about Google? Did Google do anything in this context? Yes, how will they not? Google developed a Beacon format called Eddystone that is more likely or even better than iBeacon in few factors. Google might be little late to the race but came up with a perfect bang to compete with others. Eddystone was named after a lighthouse named Eddystone in the United Kingdom.

What is Eddystone?

Eddystone is an open source beacon format released by Google in 2015 that operates in Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). It is a cross-platform and versioned profile licensed under Apache 2.0 and also contains many frames namely

Eddystone-UID
Eddystone-URL
Eddystone-TLM

Is it different from iBeacon? Not exactly but yes:

Both the beacon (iBeacon and Eddystone) profiles look similar, but Eddystone is little different that it can be implemented and executed without any restrictions. The major different between the two beacons is that the Eddystone has a telemetry frame (named as Eddystone-TLM) that reports on the beacon’s health to the central server.

To know more difference, refer to our previous article: iBeacon Vs Eddystone

What are the packets associated?

As listed earlier, the Eddystone beacon has three different packets, unlike iBeacon that has little lesser. These packets carry various tasks that make Eddystone work independently.

Eddystone-UID:

Same as that of the identifiers (UUID, Major ID and Minor ID) in an iBeacon, the Eddystone-UID has all the three in one single phase i.e. it has a unique identifier that is used to trigger the desired actions to the respective apps installed in Smartphone. More surprisingly, the Eddystone-UID 16 bytes long that is split into two major parts namely

Namespace
Instance

Eddystone-URL:

Instead of UUID and other IDs, A URL is sent that helps the customer to reach the potential data and information. URL is more likely to be same as that of the QR code. For this, you don’t have to have a QR code reader as the beacon device directly broadcasts the message.

Eddystone-TLM:

Eddystone TLM – the telemetry data or the frame type – is majorly used to monitor the health (say the battery life, power mode, etc.) of the beacons. This frame type will be useful for large houses i.e. for companies that use a number of beacons to transmit messages.

Why Eddystone?

Eddystone is far secure than any other beacon device. Considering security to be the primary factor in the fast-moving mobile world, Eddystone is more likely to win the race of the smart IoTs. Eddystone is now ready for

Beacon Manufacturers
Businesses
Developers

Eddystone for Beacon Manufacturers:

One device for all platforms: Eddystone has many extensible frames that allows beacons manufacturers to operate free to develop the device that supports almost every platform starting from iOS to Android. Few leading partners like Estimote, Bluecats, Orange, etc. Have tied up with us to manufacture quality Eddystone beacons.

Eddystone for Businesses:

No more malfunctioning beacons: The telemetry frame is going to be the major plus point in the Eddystone’s success. The businesses now face the threat of loss or damage or malfunctioning of beacon devices as these defected devices never respond to any query. It is little hard to find the defect one in the wholesome lot. But the Eddystone’s have the possibilities of reporting about the beacon’s health and its desired position. It more likely cuts down the maintenance cost and unwanted hassle.

Eddystone for Developers:

API to support accuracy: Google – along with Eddystone – has launched two APIs namely Nearby API and Proximity Beacon API to help the developers to concentrate more on precise content and precise location. Google has also planned to use these APIs in existing location APIs like Places API and more. The developers are given the freedom to develop Eddystone beacon app that ensures many possibilities.

Internet of Things (IoT) is the hot topic involving many processes right from the healthcare to the travel sectors. Eddystone is going to create a new hype in the beacon market as these devices are far better than any other beacons.