Phunware Inc (NASDAQ:PHUN) announced Thursday the launch of its Phunware Location Experience Kit, a startup box that lets brands set up a location-based user service in less than 24 hours.
In the kit, customers will find two smartphones — one iOS and one Android — complete with a suite of Apps, 20 location beacons, a beacon placement map and instructions.
Once set up, users will be able to view their location on the map and use it to navigate between the given points of interest identified by the beacons.
READ: Phunware selected by CIO Applications as one of the Top 10 Indoor Positioning Solution Providers for 2019
The kit is a way for customer to dip their toe in the water of location based services without having to go all out, Senior Product Marketing Manager Sharon Chin said.
"Previously you would have to hire the Phunware team to come install the beacons, analyze the area and do all that mapping for you," Chin told Proactive in an interview. "With this, you will send us the map first, we’ll analyze it first and clean it up, and put it in the guide and the app so it’s all ready for you and your team."
When customers have set up their kits, Phunware plans to work with them to explore implementing expanded location services at their facilities.
Among those already making use of Phunware location-based services are the Fort Lauderdale Airport, the healthcare company Mount Sinai and the Brickett City Centre in Miami.
In Fort Lauderdale, for instance, airport officials realized that people were having difficulty navigating the terminals, Chin said.
"Travels and passengers in the airport just couldn’t get from one place to another, finding their gates and their terminals" Chin said. "So after phase one of launching the mobile app with us, they then said we really need a real time wayfinding solution within the app."
The implementation of Phunware's system made the Fort Lauderdale airport the first airport to offer real-time blue dot wayfinding, which allows users to track their locations, share their location with others and ultimately find their way.
Contact Andrew Kessel at andrew.kessel@proactiveinvestors.com
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