(iTers News) - SK Telecom today announced the commercial rollout of its new Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons for indoor positioning.

Along with four industry-tailored versions of the BLE beacons, SK Telecom is also introducing “WIZTURN”, an application development platform that lets developers build location-based services according to their own criteria and needs, as well as software development kits.

The BLE beacons differ from more well-known location technologies—GPS, for example, which is thrown off by walls and ceilings, or Wi-Fi, which has a wide error range and drains power—because BLE can precisely identify a user’s location indoors through the use of close-proximity sensors. Apps connected to the beacons can then detect device locations and push out information or services.

To fit the needs of various industries, SK Telecom has developed four discrete BLE beacon models, each calibrated for use in different types of venues.

“Interest in beacon-based services is rising around the world. This is especially due to its growth potential in mobile commerce,” said Park Chol-soon, Senior Vice President and Head of the Convergence Business Office at SK Telecom. “SK Telecom will continue to expand its indoor positioning products, introducing new beacon service models that can be used in a variety of indoor spaces,” he added.

Building Based on Experience

SK Telecom first implemented indoor location technology using Bluetooth beacons in March 2013 at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. The beacons there are used to provide navigation service via 3D map as part of a smart phone application called “Patient Guide App”. The hospital was the first in the world to implement beacon-based wayfinding.

In March 2014, Seoul Student Gymnasium, which is home court of the Seoul SK Knights professional basketball team, became the first public location to see the new, updated beacon technology and WIZTURN in action. An application developed specifically for the venue uses beacons to provide navigation services via 3D map as well as location-based promotions. Any smartphone with Bluetooth 4.0 enabled can interact with the beacons and application.

Going Global

SK Telecom showcased the beacons and the WIZTURN platform at February’s 2014 Mobile World Congress, where it received positive feedback from attendees.

In March 2014, SK Telecom partnered with Telefonica to install beacons at Telefonica’s Corporate Innovation Center, an exhibition site located at the Spanish company’s headquarters in Madrid. At the center, Telefonica showcases Bluetooth beacons and related services to the company’s corporate customers.

Currently, SK Telecom is in talks with Microsoft to provide WIZTURN via Microsoft Cloud. Beginning in May 2014, an exhibition of the beacons will open at the Microsoft Technology Center in Singapore.