apple is launching its proprietary Bluetooth beacons - small boxes that communicate information about a physical location to those nearby it , accessible via a passerby 's device or wearable device . Although similar to Apple 's proprietary phones , the device has one crucial difference , it is cross - platform compatible , meaning it can work on more than just an iPhone . Earlier this year , Facebook rolled out a similar line , the imaginatively titled " smart Beacon " .
Google is launching its Eddystone Bluetooth beacons - small boxes that communicate information about a physical location to those nearby it, accessible via a passerby's smartphone or wearable device. Although similar to Apple's proprietary iBeacon, the Eddystone has one crucial difference, it is cross-platform compatible, meaning it will work on more than just an iPhone. Earlier this year, Facebook rolled out a similar line, the imaginatively titled "Facebook Beacon".