TI Korea (CEO Kent Chon, www.ti.com/ww/kr ) April 22, 2014 – TI (CEO Kent Chon) announced support for iBeacon technology with the following Bluetooth Low Energy product portfolio:
● Bluetooth Smart Support: SimpleLink™ CC2541 and CC2543 Wireless Microcontrollers (MCUs)
● Bluetooth Dual Mode Support: SimpleLink CC2564 Solution and BL6450Q Automotive Connectivity Device
● Support for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth combo connectivity: WiLink™ 8 and WiLink 8Q for automotive connectivity

Along with this, TI announced the release of new location-based apps supporting iBeacon technology for the CC2541-based SimpleLink SensorTag development kit, and the provision of an affordable, small-form-factor broadcaster reference design based on the CC2543. The CC2543 is a lower-priced version of the CC2541, optimized for beacon and broadcast applications.

iBeacon is a technology introduced in iOS 7 that enables a completely new dimension of micro-location recognition by utilizing Bluetooth Low Energy and geo-fencing (a technology that identifies a user's location to provide information). Examples of such apps include park guide signs, art museum exhibition guides, and store product displays.

Oyvind Birkenes, General Manager of Wireless Connectivity Solutions at TI, said, “iBeacon technology is being applied in restaurants, retail stores, and sports stadiums, and can be utilized in a wide variety of other applications. It can be used in almost every field, including asset tracking, building automation systems, automotive and industrial applications, and all types of consumer electronics. By supporting iBeacon technology with TI’s entire Bluetooth Low Energy product portfolio and the new SimpleLink SensorTag location app and broadcaster reference design, customers can now quickly add micro-location capabilities to their products.”

The new SensorTag location app, supporting iBeacon technology, is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch and can be downloaded from the App Store. Using this app, you can easily build an internal positioning system by uploading internal layouts and specifying SensorTags. The app provides feedback on how close a user is to a SensorTag and can execute a custom URL when a user enters its range. Additionally, this new SensorTag app allows you to update existing SensorTags to be compatible with iBeacon technology via an over-the-air (OTA) upgrade.