Use of Bluetooth Beacon Technology in Smart Airport

Are you looking for a solution to engage your business through Beacon Technology? Bluetooth Beacon Technology the latest platform provides scalable, intuitive services. Amar Infotech is the best Bluetooth Beacon service providers in India and the USA, we have a proven track record using various solution to Integrate your iOS, Android mobile apps with Bluetooth Beacon Technology in Smart Airport. We are planning to integrate indoor positioning into Airports, have a look for our solution.

History of Bluetooth Beacons at airport

A Beacon is a small device that transmits a short-range signal that can be detected by mobile apps in the small range to Beacons. Beacons themselves don’t collect data.

Beacons technology uses a protocol launched in 1994 by Ericsson. In 1998 various companies like IBM, Intel, Nokia, and Toshiba joined Ericsson Telecommunications Company and established the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) to advance Bluetooth. Beacons use a simple version of the standard called Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) device. Bluetooth Low Energy became part of Bluetooth 4.0 in 2010 so the technology has been available for several years.

While Beacons have existed for several years, what triggered the interest in Beacons within the Air Industry was the initiation of the iBeacon device by Apple. This was launched with iOS 7 in 2013. The iBeacon technology is an Apple-specific format for the beacon advertising payload. With the iBeacon profile, beacons can find iOS devices of their presence and trigger pieces of information in apps on the gadget.

How does beacon technology work at Airport

Nowadays with Technology growing world, we can find many variations in beacon technology with a wide range of functionalities and formats from various beacon manufactures. We can find various categories at today’s advanced Airport Terminal, One of the main categories we can leverage is Beacon that communicates with mobile apps and with your Browsers. Applications that made specifically for your Beacon device which publicly published with major services known as iBeacon and Eddystone-UID. By using Applications which can transmit pieces of information even if your phone is in your pocket.

Top 10 Real-time updates and navigation using Beacons at Airport Terminal:

• A welcome message at Airport when you arrive

• Improved wayfinding and indicating position at Airport

• Walk time to terminal gate

• Flight Check In/Check out updates

• Flight boarding information

• Baggage arrival notifications

• Security Queue messages

• Retail Promotional notifications at duty-free shops

• Special Lounge access notifications

• Locate Staff or passengers easily

Ten airports that have beacons technology deployed

1) Miami International Airport, USA

Miami International Airport was the first airport in the U.S. to use technology-enabled by Bluetooth beacons. Miami International Airport's newly launched app makes life a lot easier for their travelers. They have fitted more than 500 Bluetooth data beacons and using them they are sending personalized updates, directions, and tips based on their locations and requirements at the airport. They are planning to launch new features in MIA Airport Official Mobile App, with push notifications that provide special offers from MIA’s retailers within the airport; the ability to reserve parking and access to updated security wait times.

Source: MIA Airport Official

2) Heathrow Airport, London

iBeacon initiatives taken by British Airways and Virgin at Heathrow Airport will allow premium passengers to receive personalized notifications and offers via their iPhone. Travelers with an iPhone can make use of service using Bluetooth Low Energy and Geofencing technologies.

3) Hamad International Airport, Doha Qatar

With newly launched Bluetooth beacon enhanced the mobile application, Hamad International Airport(HIA) make the initiative to help their passengers by providing real-time information of Promotional retails offers, flight status, baggage claim and real-time navigations to the boarding gate. Over 700 iBeacons deliver proactive notifications to passengers mobile app at HIA Airport, Doha Qatar.

4) GVK Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai India

The Mumbai T2 official mobile app recently launched a lot of features in it which supported through iBeacon technology. The app offers advanced navigation assistance and allows passengers to easily look up any section. With the help of Bluetooth technology Airport Authority planning to improve a lot of features like GVK museum navigation technology m-shopping, Paperless Boarding pass Check-In, Pre-booking duty frees and a lot.

5) Tokyo Haneda Airport, Japan

iBeacon initiatives taken by British Airways and Virgin at Heathrow Airport will allow premium passengers to receive personalized notifications and offers via their iPhone. Travelers with an iPhone can make use of service using Bluetooth Low Energy and Geofencing technologies.

Source: futuretravelexperience.com

6) Bologna Airport, Italy

iBeacon initiatives taken by British Airways and Virgin at Heathrow Airport will allow premium passengers to receive personalized notifications and offers via their iPhone. Travelers with an iPhone can make use of service using Bluetooth Low Energy and Geofencing technologies.

7) John F Kennedy Airport, New York

One of the busiest Airport in the world, John F Kennedy(JFK) airport at New York allowing beacon technology and mobile app at Terminal 4 for their passengers. The beacon Technology which reducing Pre-Flight Stress and provides actual processing time for passengers waiting in the long queue. The JFK Terminal 4 has also installed special TVs at specific locations, such as TSA security, checkpoint, indoor taxi queue, and Customs and Border Protection areas.

Source: anith.com

8) San Francisco Airport, California USA

Such a nice approach by San Francisco Airport Authority by helping visually challenged Passengers through Bluetooth low energy technology(BLE). Airport Authority installed around 500 beacons at Airport so passengers can get relevant notifications as they walked through the airport. Passengers can easily search for Information desks, retail shops, restaurants, and boarding gates by Visually Impaired navigation app.

9) Hong Kong International Airport, China

iBeacon Technology enhances Travel Experience for Hong Kong International Airport(HIKI Airport) Passengers. HKG My Flight is the official mobile app that provides real-time notifications, Indoor mapping, passengers guide. With the power of more than 50 beacons at Airport Terminal 1 trigger wayfinding functionality using their device camera and location-relevant messages to travelers in different languages like Chinese, English, Japanese and Korean.

10) Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, Paris France

Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is leveraging beacon technology with recently launched advanced mobile app at the opening of Terminal 1 retail area. With beacons installed throughout the Airport in order to provide retail information. The Airport Premier Club passengers using the mobile app will, meanwhile, automatically earn points as they pass through the airport. Gold Premiere Passengers can also access fast-track Security Check-In with the help of their smartphones.

If you are planning Beacon based app development in 2018 with the power to enhance on-time notification and detect user’s position if you have any ideas for your own location-based mobile app feel free to Contact us. Our team will guide you through the approximate cost of app creation and further requirement processes.