Estimote introduces iBeacon power management tools for extending battery life

Estimote, the company behind the iBeacons I tested in my Launch Center Pro 2.3 coverage and used by easyJet in select European airports, is introducing a round of improvements to its beacon product line and corresponding software today. The primary focus of the improvements deals with power management and how Estimote’s iBeacons consume battery. In short, Estimote’s iBeacons are getting smarter about how they connect and stay powered by adding two beacon power modes including Basic and Smart…

Basic power mode will add 30 percent more battery life to your Estimote beacons at the minimal expense of decreasing the speed of establishing a direct connection. Estimote says this mode is ideal in instances when connecting to beacons happens infrequently. The battery life gain can be afforded without impacting broadcast power.

The other option, which Estimote says can be used simultaneously, is smart power mode and can reduce 50 percent of power consumption. Here’s how Estimote describes this new mode:

Smart Power uses state-of-the-art adaptive algorithms to understand how you use your beacons, and applies this data to optimize power usage to suit your needs. Your Estimote Beacon will automatically learn your use case and its environment—how many devices are nearby at certain times, for instance—to intelligently adjust its power consumption.

In addition to the basic and smart power modes, Estimote says it will soon allow you to set the broadcast hours of specific beacons. This will allow you to set rules for which hours your beacons are active and when your beacons are inactive saving even more battery life on the device.

The update to Estimote’s iPhone app also adds an improved radar view and better UUID management that users should appreciate. Estimote says these specific improvements are a precursor to more features with fleet management in mind due in the coming weeks. For more on Estimote’s beacon battery improvements, read their full blog post here.

The latest version of Estimote’s iPhone app is available now on the App Store and includes the latest firmware update available over-the-air to new and existing Estimote beacons.