Nordic Semiconductor, a wireless solutions company, has released a software development kit (SDK) and support tools to support Google's Eddystone-EID launch.

Google Eddystone-EID is a beacon format that protects personal information and blocks attacks by preventing unauthorized access .



Nordic Semiconductor's nRF5 SDK for Eddystone, now available, enables immediate development of Eddystone-EID beacons that provide users with real-world contextual information in a wide variety of proximity-based beacon applications. Nordic's nRF5 SDK for Eddystone also features a GATT configuration that allows you to configure Eddystone beacons from your smartphone.

The SDK is designed for Nordic's latest nRF52832/nRF52 Series Bluetooth® Smart Systems-on-Chips (SoCs). It will also soon enable Nordic's existing nRF51 Series and nRF52832-based Eddystone beacons to be updated to the latest Eddystone-EID security features via a simple over-the-air (OTA) firmware update.

“Security and privacy have been concerns with beacon formats today, but the new Eddystone-EID release opens up new possibilities for beacons in security-sensitive applications where the data captured could be used for malicious purposes,” says Reidar Martin, Technical Product Manager at Nordic Semiconductor.

Radar Martin also added, "This type of interactive, on-demand service, which doesn't require an app, could be applied to virtually any device or 'thing' that could benefit from becoming smarter, including vending machines, public information, tourist attractions, toys, bus stops, and parking meters. The range of potential applications is vast and will only grow over time."