In 2015 Google launched a competing, but similar, beacon standard called Eddystone. Eddystone also has the capability to deliver a packet of data and a URI, potentially eliminating the need to have an app associated with the beacon and a richer functionality (e.g. the data packet could transport sensor information).
In 2010 an Australian company called DKTOB (trading as Daelibs[34]), was the first company[citation needed] to leverage Bluetooth for indoor proximity sensing in its Seeknfind location attendance solution. Daelibs designed and manufactured a Bluetooth beacon for use in shopping centres based on the Bluegiga chipset.[citation needed] In 2012 Daelibs filed its Bluetooth beacon patent.[35]
Hewlett-Packard Research Labs introduced the "CoolTown" technology [36] that combined infrared "beacons" and software using then-current PDA technology. A common method was to have the beacon transmit a URL rather than a unique identifier although arbitrary identifiers (including unique identifiers) could be used.
Although the Near field communication (NFC) environment is very different and has many non-overlapping applications, it is still compared with iBeacons.
NFC range is up to 20 cm (7.87 inches) but the optimal range is < 4 cm (1.57 inches). iBeacons have a significantly larger range.
NFC can be either passive or active. When using passive mode, the power is sent from the reader device. Whereas although Passif (bought by Apple Inc.) has worked on reducing the energy consumption, a battery pack is still needed inside iBeacon tags at this time.
Most Android smart devices ship with both Bluetooth 4.0 LE and NFC support.[37] On September 19, 2014 also Apple released the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus, supporting the NFC standard, but only limited to payments [38]