Oslo, Norway – April 8, 2014 – Nordic Semiconductor ASA (OSE: NOD, Country Manager for Korea: Soo-Chul Choi, www.nordicsemi.com ), a specialist in Ultra Low Power (ULP) RF, announced a reference design for Bluetooth Smart beacons based on Nordic’s award-winning, leading nRF51822 multiprotocol Bluetooth Smart and proprietary 2.4GHz System-on-Chip (SoC). Bluetooth Smart beacons are low-cost, low-power Bluetooth Low Energy radio transmitters that provide location information to nearby Bluetooth Smart Ready smartphones.

The nRF51822 Beacon Kit enables developers and engineers to develop their own beacon applications using Apple’s iBeacon™ standard or to implement their own beacons with proprietary specifications using Bluetooth Smart. This kit is ideal for OEMs and ODMs to develop beacon hardware used in conjunction with related back-end services to provide complete beacon solutions to their customers.

This kit is ready to work immediately with the accompanying smartphone app for iOS and Android (4.1/4.3) devices. The firmware is available via source code provided by Nordic, allowing you to quickly and easily set up beacon scenarios to test product ideas. This kit leverages the performance of the nRF51822 SoC, which supports complete OTA-DFU (Over-The-Air Device Firmware Upgrade), enabling accurate field updates for the firmware of all beacons.

Android and iOS apps possess use case scenarios much like paintings arranged in an art gallery. The content of these apps can be modified or added very quickly and easily as needed to enrich and diversify the user experience. These example scenarios can be easily adjusted regardless of whether the specific application is private or public information. Use case examples can be realized by adding context files (e.g., text or images) to smartphone apps.

The nRF51822 Bluetooth Smart Beacon Kit is an ultra-small form factor beacon (20mm in diameter) powered by a CR1632 coin cell battery. It supports iOS and Android apps, provides source code for beacon firmware and smartphone apps, and supports OTA-DFU (Over-The-Air Device Firmware Upgrade).

The future of beacons holds numerous diverse possibilities, such as indoor micro-location or "indoor GPS." Currently, they are primarily used in the field of "Contextual Awareness," which provides relevant information when a user is in close proximity to a Point of Interest (POI). While beacons only transmit their own IDs, smartphones can also provide all information related to the location of specific beacons accessible to the user through apps or direct services. The range of applicable scenarios for beacons is virtually limitless and can be applied in various ways, including special offers or products available in stock at retail stores, exhibitions at public galleries or museums, train and bus terminals, and shopping list notifications.

Bluetooth Smart beacons utilize advertising packets that contain a field indicating the beacon's ID during operation. Smartphones use their internal RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication) to estimate the distance between the handset and the beacon. While beacons deliver only advertisements to the smartphone without contextual information, the smartphone uses the advertising packets to identify the beacon's ID (e.g., via a phone app) and determines information or actions related to the beacon's location. Permitted actions vary by phone vendor and, depending on regulations, may include audible alerts, vibrations, or triggering other apps.

The nRF51822 Beacon Kit features hardware, firmware, and software developed by Nordic and supports both iOS 7 and Android (4.3/4.1) operating systems. Since smartphones exhibit different RSSI levels depending on the brand or model (for example, due to differences in electromagnetic waves streamed from the case enclosure or antenna used), the nRF51822 Beacon Kit is equipped with adjustment features to maintain consistent performance regardless of the phone model.

With the launch of Apple's iBeacon service in 2013, interest in beacons has increased significantly, and many stores now want to utilize context marketing. Apple Stores began releasing iBeacons that work with the Apple Store app starting in 2013. This marks the first large-scale adoption of iBeacon technology in Apple Stores, enabling a more diverse shopping experience for customers.

The nRF51822 Beacon Kit allows for a complete demonstration of all features of Bluetooth Smart beacon technology. Additionally, all design files are provided by Nordic, and modifications are possible according to the designer's requirements.

Thomas Embla Bonnerud, Director of Product Management at Nordic Semiconductor, noted, “Beacons are a technology that can be immediately applied to the commercial sector.” He pointed out, “Marketing has become increasingly direct and personalized over the past few years, and the use of beacons will advance a step further.” He added, “For example, consumers can now know in real time whether items needed for a recipe, special offers on products, or whether items are in stock. Furthermore, context-aware capabilities can be applied to environments such as museums or train stations where location-based information needs to be collected from individual users.”

Thomas also stated, “Nordic Semiconductor is always at the forefront of supporting advanced applications for developers with ultra-low-power wireless technology. We will continue to build our track record in the Bluetooth Smart beacon field through the nRF51822 beacon kit.”

The nRF51822 Bluetooth Smart Beacon Kit includes one beacon and provides access to all software and design files. The product will be available starting April 8 and is scheduled to be sold for $29.95. More information can be obtained through Nordic Semiconductor.

*Note: 'iBeacon' is a registered trademark of Apple Inc.