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fezzzer

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 13, 2013
235
158
I have recently travelled to the US and whilst in a shopping centre/mall my phone suggested several different app's whilst the screen was locked (as per the link below)

https://www.macrumors.com/2014/06/03/ios-8-apps-quick-access/

I understand this uses location services (I would assume GPS) however even whilst inside the shopping centre, it knew when I was in Starbucks, and separately it knew when I was in/near the Apple store.

How would it know where I was in the mall, would it use Wifi location information?
 
It's possibly iBeacon, which uses Bluetooth. Otherwise it's WiFi. Your phone isn't transmitting it's GPS location, the system is just deducing where you are and where you have been.
 
Ah so that's what they're using iBeacon for. Makes perfect sense. They'll soon be pestering us with adverts as we walk around shops I imagine.
 
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