TI brings Apple's iBeacon to Bluetooth products for industrial, automotive & embedded applications

TI's SensorTag development kit

Silicon firm Texas Instruments on Wednesday announced plans to support Apple's iBeacon microlocation technology across a large swath of TI's Bluetooth product line, including chips for embedded and automotive applications.

"Restaurants, retailers and even sports stadiums have started using iBeacon technology, but there are many more applications that could benefit from the technology. Everything from asset trackers, retail, building automation systems, automotive and industrial applications, and a wide variety of consumer electronics," TI wireless connectivity executive Oyvind Birkenes said in a press release.

TI will bring iBeacons to the company's SimpleLink CC2541, CC2543, and CC2564 microcontrollers alongside the BL6450Q controller designed for automotive applications. iBeacons will also make their way into TI's WiLink series of integrated WiFi and Bluetooth packages, including the WiLink 8Q which enables advanced connectivity in vehicles and adds support for GPS and GLONASS signals.

"By providing support for iBeacon technology across our entire Bluetooth low energy portfolio as well as a new SimpleLink SensorTag location app and broadcaster reference design, we are enabling manufacturers to quickly add micro-locationing capabilities to their products," he added.

The SensorTag app, a companion for TI's $25 iBeacon development kit of the same name, allows developers to virtually "place" SensorTags within a digital floorplan. The app provides ranging feedback and will launch a customized URL based on its proximity to specific SensorTags.

TI also unveiled a new reference design for a broadcast-only iBeacon system, based on the CC2543, which the company says is coin cell-sized, uses minimal power, and can be manufactured quickly for a low cost.

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6 Comments

dick applebaum

said about 10 years ago

This is a big affirmation of Apple iBeacon tech!

tmay

said about 10 years ago

This is very good for TI; these devices are going to be ubiquitous.

Next thing will be integrated sensors and actuator interface for the home automation market.

applesauce007

said about 10 years ago

There must is a reason behind all this.

TI customers are demanding iBeacon everywhere.

Time will tell.

blah64

said about 10 years ago

This sounds good for Apple (and AAPL), which I'm happy to hear -- as long as it can be absolutely 100% turned off.

I don't want any stores or any company, including Apple, to be able to track my location in real time. It's bad enough that the cell companies do this (with all phones, smart or dumb), but it's not possible to have any kind of voice or data connection otherwise.

It doesn't matter whether the IDs are "anonymous" or not, it's far too easy to un-anonymize any kind of ID via various other means. You may stay anonymous if you're very careful, until you use it one time for something tied to your real-world person. Like something as simple as paying for something at a cash register with a credit or debit card. Oops.

Again, no problem, as long as it can be 100% disabled, permanently.

dick applebaum

said about 10 years ago

[quote name="Blah64" url="/t/178532/ti-brings-apples-ibeacon-to-bluetooth-products-for-industrial-automotive-embedded-applications#post_2517724"]This sounds good for Apple (and AAPL), which I'm happy to hear -- [B][I]as long as it can be absolutely 100% turned off.[/I][/B] I don't want [I]any[/I] stores or [I]any[/I] company, including Apple, to be able to track my location in real time. It's bad enough that the cell companies do this (with [I]all[/I] phones, smart or dumb), but it's not possible to have any kind of voice or data connection otherwise. It doesn't matter whether the IDs are "anonymous" or not, it's far too easy to un-anonymize any kind of ID via various other means. You may stay anonymous if you're very careful, until you use it one time for something tied to your real-world person. Like something as simple as paying for something at a cash register with a credit or debit card. Oops. Again, no problem, as long as it can be 100% disabled, permanently. [/quote] You can turn Bluetooth off. But, if you are concerned about tracking, you should also turn off your: [LIST] [*] WiFi [*] GPS radio [*] Cell radio [/LIST] I can't remember where I read the article (arstechnica???), but, for example: every time your phone detects a nearby WiFi tower (used to assist GPS) -- the tower also detects your phone's unique WiFi ID. Same principle for the cell towers. So the WiFi system and the cell system can detect where you are and track where you've been (and when). If I can find a link, I'll post an update.