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SXSW plans largest iBeacon deployment yet to let attendees meet up & find events via mobile app

 

South by Southwest (SXSW) just launched its official mobile app ahead of the festival and alongside it announced plans for the world’s largest deployment of iBeacons to offer mobile app features triggered by the Bluetooth beacons. In total, more than 1000+ beacons will be deployed to pull it all off. SXSW thinks the features will “fundamentally change attendee’s experiences” by letting mobile app users network and navigate the event.

Working with its partner Eventbase, which it invested in last year and collaborated with in recent years, this year’s deployment of iBeacons will offer an in-app social networking feature called Attendee Match. Users will also be able to discover events around them using iBeacon tech with an Around Me feature (pictured above).

Also expanded this year is the iBeacon-based Session Live feature that allows audience members to get involved in conversations. “Using iBeacon technology, see who’s in the session with you and join the discussion (expanded to more sessions for 2015)”

The SXSW GO 2015 app is available to download on the App Store now. The SXSW festival takes place later this month in Austin, Texas from March 13-17 and could potentially be home to “pop up” Apple Watch displays.

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Comments

  1. Devika Girish - 9 years ago

    Great post Jordan. Thanks for sharing. Although beacons are popularly considered to be a retailer-focused opportunity,events too have a lot to gain from this new proximity-detection technology. For example, it allows them to have meaningful, personalized conversations with their visitors. Another important thing to note is that, to make the most of these proximity detection devices, it is critical that event organizers experiment with new beacon UX in their efforts to convert occasional visitors or loyal visitors. We’ve discussed 3 beacon UX strategies that event organizers can benefit from here:
    http://blog.mobstac.com/2015/01/3-beacon-ux-strategies-that-brands-will-benefit-from

  2. Dean Collins - 9 years ago

    any followup from users who were there?

    what did you like/hate about the app?

    what would you have done differently?

Author

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series.