Building Applications with iBeacon

High-precision location information is increasingly useful for mobile application developers, since it allows devices to interact with the world around them. This practical book shows you how to achieve arm’s reach accuracy with iBeacons, simple transmitters that enable your applications to react to nearby surroundings and then deliver timely, relevant information—especially indoors, where GPS and cell service are inaccurate.

Whether you’re enabling a map, giving users directions, creating a game, recommending purchases, letting users check in, or creating an immersive experience, you’ll learn how iBeacons provide precise location information, empowering your applications to engage and interact with users nearby.

• Get examples of several application types you can build with iBeacons
• Learn how iBeacons provide applications with proximity information
• Set up, activate, and test iBeacons on both specialized and general-purpose hardware
• Explore the APIs and tools you need to develop location-aware mobile applications
• Use built-in iOS features to interact with iBeacons, including Passbook
• Build networks to help shoppers, travelers, conference attendees, and others find what they’re looking for

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. The iBeacon Protocol
Chapter 3. Setting Up Your Own Beacons
Chapter 4. Application Development
Chapter 5. iOS and iBeacons
Chapter 6. Building iBeacon Networks