Apple may be looking to bring its location-aware iBeacon connectivity technology into the home. An unidentified piece of iBeacon-enabled hardware, the first the company has built, has made its way through the FCC in the US, but left few indications of what it is exactly, or what its purpose may be. Apple currently uses third-party build iBeacon sensors in its Apple Stores to alert iPhone owners of information and offers for its product ranges based on their precise locations within the store. The tech uses Bluetooth and wireless data in order to track consenting users around the store.
An FCC filing discovered on Saturday reveals in-depth details on Apple’s first dedicated iBeacon-compatible beacon hardware, suggesting the company may soon introduce the micro-location technology to consumer spaces like so-called “smart homes.” Filed with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s Office of Engineering and Technology (OET), the original equipment application is the first clear sign that Apple is testing an in-house hardware solution for its location-aware iBeacon technology. The document was spotted by Securifi and subsequently reported by TUAW. According to the OET’s paperwork, the device is labeled “Apple iBeacon” and carries the model number A1573. Hardware testing was performed at a facility owned by Chinese company Audix Technology, which ran assessments using a conducted shielding enclosure, a semi-anechoic chamber and other specialized equipment at the end of April through mid-May.
