Watch out, Apple: Philips has a connected lighting system that could top the iBeacon and other competitors when it comes to guiding customers through stores, The Verge reported.
Piloting the system at a Düsseldorf retailer, Philips has introduced a lighting system that can show customers their location in a store and direct them to find what they need.
Through an app, shoppers can view a map of the location to see where they are and get directions to anything they need. The Philips lighting unit has a beacon that can relay information, so buyers can search for products and then get directions to track down the items.
The system has the potential to challenge iBeacon, one of Apple's latest offerings.
Using GPS and Bluetooth inside select Apple locations, iBeacon is an optional app that tracks customers inside a store and feeds advertisements to their phones based on location.
Philips has kept quiet so far on its new beacon system. The company hasn't announced the exact technology used, which operating systems it works with or whether it will be installed at more locations.
The Verge noted that such major retail chains as Macy's and American Eagle have been implementing iBeacon, hinting that the technology is growing in popularity.
So far, the iPhone app has allowed malls, museums and stadiums to identify people and track their movements, according to Yahoo! Finance.
Included in Apple's latest iOS upgrade, iBeacon can track people with somewhat eerie accuracy, reportedly letting a store pop up coupon offers for Coca-Cola on phones when customers pass the soda aisle.
iBeacon was also recently added in the Automatic smart driving device, TechCrunch reported.
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