San Francisco, California and Krakow, Poland – May 6, 2015: Today, Kontakt.io, provider of beacon hardware and software solutions, opens up proximity-based experiences and expands beacon technology to the 99 percent of the world’s surface that’s not inside a building with the Kontakt.io Tough Beacon. Designed to meet the demanding requirements of outdoor environments, Kontakt.io’s Tough Beacon is encased in a special polycarbonate blend that makes it virtually shatterproof, waterproof, dustproof, hermetically sealed, anti-static, UV resistant, and operable in a wide-range of temperatures.
“The power of proximity cannot reach its full potential if it is restricted to just indoor environments. Our Tough Beacon unleashes new opportunities for the Internet of Things everywhere,” said Szymon Niemczura, cofounder and CEO of Kontakt.io. “We will see beacon technology answer all kinds of proximity needs and deliver scenarios not previously possible – from fixed infrastructure installations and moving objects, to indoor tracking and even sensor-equipped smart city solutions.”
When beacon technology first arrived, it addressed proximity needs for less than one percent of the globe’s surface – the indoors. With the Kontakt.io Tough Beacon, the other 99 percent of citizens, businesses and public spaces are able to benefit from proximity solutions everywhere.
With its resilient construction, Kontakt.io’s Tough Beacon is difficult to remove and can be mounted on various surfaces. Cities can deploy beacons on traffic infrastructure to monitor, and potentially alleviate congestion, on roadways, or on public transportation to inform citizens of bus schedules and potentially help the visually impaired navigate their cities better. Even a zoo could use outdoor beacons to offer a more educational and hassle-free visit, without worry of environmental damage. With Tough Beacons, open-air events could enhance music festival-going experiences with easier access to the best parking, see your favorite bands, or find the shortest line for food.
The Kontakt.io Tough Beacon can be submerged in water up to 10 meters and combat severe temperatures ranging from minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit) to 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit). While created to solve the challenges of the outdoors, Kontakt.io’s Tough Beacon can also be used in extreme indoor situations that require a more rugged solution, such as factories or industrial environments. From intense heat and cold, to rain and humidity, to dust, Kontakt.io’s Tough Beacon was carefully designed to withstand anything the elements can throw at it.
