Urban Airship is working on ways to verify interest based on location, so it doesn't accidentally send someone who happened to stop at the women's shoes section by chance a coupon, he said.
A lot of retailers are taking a closer look at how to augment their shopping experiences. Walmart, for instance, has done a lot of work with its app and location-sensing technology to create a more custom feel for shoppers already in the store. Macy's last year hired a "chief omnichannel officer" to oversee the integration of its store with mobile and online operations.
Urban Airship is hoping to entice its customers into trying out iBeacon, and plans to send out 3D-printed model airships containing iBeacon modules for companies interested in testing out the technology.
One of the first deployments of Urban Airship's notification-powered iBeacon system will be at the Cheltenham Festival in the UK. The organizers plan to place iBeacons near the racecourse and throughout Cheltenham to trigger alerts and "engagement experiences," according to Alex Rutehrford, head of mobile sportsbook for William Hill Plc. Tech and cultural conference SXSW in Austin will also use iBeacons next month.
Broader deployment will take time, Hieggeke acknowledged, but noted that he is optimistic.
"They're all aware of it, but there's still this learning curve," he said.
Topics: Smartphones, iPhone, News, Carriers, iOS, Apps and software Tags: iBeacon, mwc2014, Apple, Urban AirshipSign up here with your email
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