Eventbase Uses iBeacon and Urban Airship Messaging to Connect Nearby Attendees Within the Cannes Lions Festival App

CANNES, FRANCE--(Marketwired - Jun 11, 2014) - Eventbase Technology Inc., creators of the world's most trusted event app platform, is for the first time using iBeacon™ to let attendees connect with each other at the world's biggest celebration of creativity in communications.

Attendees at the Cannes Lions® 2014 festival, which starts June 15, will be able to use the iBeacon-powered "Around Me" feature within the official iPhone app to detect nearby attendees and connect with them.

Apple's iBeacon technology, which utilizes the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) standard, is a game-changing technology that lets smartphone and tablet users detect beacons and interact with people and items around them. Users must opt in to the service and turn on Bluetooth on their iOS7 device.

Eventbase co-founder Jeff Sinclair says the Cannes Lions app combines the power of iBeacon technology with tight LinkedIn integration to allow attendees to see who is around them, read their profile and immediately reach out to them through the app.

"We're excited to be pioneering the use of iBeacon technology for attendee-to-attendee networking," says Sinclair. "The ability to find out more about the people around you and instantly connect has the potential to transform the event experience entirely."

Eventbase is partnering with mobile relationship management platform Urban Airship to deliver highly targeted and relevant messages via iBeacon-triggered push notifications to attendees during the event, including those visiting the festival's Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) Tent -- a showcase for mobile, creativity and marketing innovation.

Additionally, visitors to an exhibit of award finalists can expect beacon-triggered prompts from the Cannes Lions app offering more information about the specific campaign they are looking at. Users can read background information on the producer and campaign.

Eventbase pioneered iBeacon technology at events with the official app for South by Southwest (SXSW) in March 2014 with messaging also powered by Urban Airship. iBeacon and BLE technology is now available in the latest version of the Eventbase Premium Event App product.

"Eventbase is redefining the value of event apps using iBeacons to better fulfill the very reason people attend -- to learn, network and make connections," said Scott Kveton, co-founder and CEO of Urban Airship. "Core, streamlined utility like this will continue to make apps and proximity an indispensable part of any venue-based experience, reminding you not only of where to go and when, but who and what to connect with while there."