iBeacon Becomes a Fixture in MLB Ballparks

Baseball season has arrived, and Major League Baseball parks are abuzz with delighted fans celebrating the return of the grand old game. However, in 20 of the 30 MLB stadiums, there’s something beyond peanuts and Cracker Jacks enhancing the fan experience: iBeacon positioning technology.

iBeacon is a new device developed by Apple to enhance the iOS operating system’s ability to deliver location-based services. iOS app developers are leveraging the technology to take user engagement to an entirely new level.

Essentially, the iBeacon allows a user to register when he or she arrives at a participating MLB stadium. Baseball clubs can then deliver specialized services to registered users, including everything from exclusive video content and seating upgrades to stadium maps and concession stand information.

While MLB officials are proceeding with caution pending the results of an Opening Day pilot project, many expect the league’s head office to green-light expanded iBeacon services as the season continues. The San Francisco Giants, who have long been one of the league’s most forward-thinking clubs, believe iBeacon technology has the potential to deliver a more engaging, more satisfying and more interesting fan experience.

“Mobile and digital experiences are paramount to our fan experiences, and they have played a role in the fact that we’ve had 246 straight sellouts,” said Bill Schlough, the Giants’ chief information officer. “[iBeacon] opens up a world of [geo-targeting] possibilities.”

Many industry observers expect that iBeacon app development is set for a major boom in the years ahead. While the technology is still in its relative infancy, it already offers exciting new ways for businesses to offer exclusive promotions to privileged customers. As more and more companies seek to reward customer loyalty, iBeacon could prove to be a game-changer in the world of mobile commerce.

San Francisco iPhone app development will benefit from more than just the Giants jumping on the iBeacon bandwagon. iBeacon technology is expected to become a mainstay in shopping malls, stadiums, arenas and entertainment complexes in the immediate future.