Sides from a talk at the Wireless Systems Congress, covering Proximity, Proximity Platforms and Services, and some applications of proximity in Retail.
Hardware Very few mobile phones had GPS. Very few Cell-Id enabled phones were available. All the major smartphone platforms have GPS, CellId and WiFi-assisted location. Access and APIs No common Location APIs available. Those that did varied (a lot) by operator. Often restricted in terms of access. Location APIs do vary by platform, but they are open, and they are consistent. In addition, value-add location services are available in abundance. Business Model Operators wanted to charge for location “dips”, discouraging developers and throttling potentially successful applications. Use of location is provided free with the platform. Value-add (paid) services are provided by third parties, charging for apps, growing “big data”.
for developers, it “took off” • Became stitched in to a wide range of applications and services • Way beyond what might have been originally intended • Some examples…
Apps LocalSocial Cloud Service Retail / Location Partner Developers Developers build proximity-enabled applications using the LocalSocial Libraries. The libraries in turn use the LocalSocial Cloud service (via APIs). Apps can react when other LocalSocial-enabled Apps are within range, or when any location is within range. Enables loyalty tracking, hyperlocal offers, vouchers, gaming, social browsing….
Dowser J2ME Mobile LocalSocial Service Cloud Java /J2ME Website mylocalsocial.co m Oauth Interface for third party Server DB Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Last.fm Social API
the usage, and use cases, will explode • Several initiatives underway to help achieve this – including LocalSocial • Watch out for retail – it’s a great market for proximity, including Low Energy Bluetooth
WiFi, Bluetooth and NFC, all work great indoors, where many Location-based technologies struggle. Accuracy / Resolution The varying resolution distances of Bluetooth, WiFi and NFC are ideal for different scenarios, so that the service can be used to tell if someone is “nearby”, “in store” or “standing by the handbags”. Interaction richness WiFi and Bluetooth enable direct two-way connections between, for example, a retailer and the customer on-site. For example – a store might like to make staff aware that a “Platinum customer” just walked on premise, or find other entertaining and fun ways to acknowledge to the customer‘s presence. Proximity technology enables “we detect you” functionality (with your permission). Zero action required WiFi and Bluetooth may both be used in a symmetrical fashion wrt detection (“customer detects store”) or (“store detects customer”). As a result, some very useful scenarios are available to customers (“just see me when I’m in store and do something – make me an offer!”) – without them having to do anything. “Right here Right now” Short-range wireless can be thought of as enabling a “place based network” – a spontaneous network that’s right here, right now (not who was here 30 minutes ago). This ability to support real-time interactions can be used to create smarter and more interesting interactions between people and “things nearby”.
believe proximity is complimentary, but different, to location • And we believe it can help power some scenarios between people and businesses in a simple, elegant, efficient way
(restaurant, pub, service, business, etc.) • Many uses keyed off location Biz finding, routing, checkins, people finding, serendipity Proximity • For businesses - see devices nearby – as they arrive, dwell, leave (not only when/if they check-in) • Real-time, here & now view • Fine-grained resolution (“in the shop”) (“on the train”)
If I know where two things are – I can determine how close they are (proximity) • If I can see things nearby (using short range wireless) – Then I may be able to look them up to find out where they are (location) • Proximity is inherently “short range” – We think of things being “in the room”, “in the train carriage”, “in the café” with me
or alone • Together: – Location to find businesses nearby – Proximity : to be detected by that business when you’re right outside / inside – Proximity: to indicate you’re at Till2 • Proximity: to be “checked out” notice, people check in with FourSquare, but they never check out! • Proximity can bring: Here and right now Talk to me / communication Autodetect