RFID is being used in conjunction with the iPhone to create BiKN, the app that helps you keep track of people and things.

When you can’t find your phone, you simply ask someone to call it, but when you can’t find your wallet or keys, you’ve got bigger problems—until now. Treehouse Labs, is releasing a wireless technology solution that allows an iPhone to locate items or individuals. The solution is BiKN, pronounced beacon, and uses an iPhone application, an RFID reader built into a case that snaps onto the phone and battery-powered 2.4 GHz RFID tags that can be attached to objects or people. BiKN users can set up their phone to send alerts to help them locate whatever they like.

The BiKN solution will be formally launched in Jan. at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Once available, consumers will be able to purchase a package, consisting of the BiKN “smart case,” which would come with eight tags. After an iPhone is placed into the case, the phone would prompt the consumer to download the BiKN app. From there, they could set up a network of everything linked to the case by inputting information about what was tagged, then reading each tag through the case. The app can even display pictures, helping to keep track of alerts.

In addition to tracking people and things, they BiKn system could also be used as a sort of leash—users can set up a perimeter around the phone and indicate how far items or people can move away from it. For example, if a child or pet wore one of the RFID tags and went too far away, the phone and tag would sound an alert.

BiKN plans on making their solution affordable for consumers, reflecting Apple by creating fun and accessible technology. In the future, BiKN may be available for other operating systems such as Android, but for now, is focusing on launching the iPhone solution at CES.

Would you use BiKN to track your things? What about people? Share your thoughts by commenting below, or on our Facebook or twitter pages.

As mobility continues to be on the forefront of the minds of both businesses and consumers, we have to wonder—how much is too much, and how is this affecting our privacy?

In Australia, a mobile tracking solution from Path Intelligence, a company that brings online analytics to the real world, will be rolled out at a shopping mall. While consumer information such as names and phone numbers will not be released, location will be. Essentially, shoppers will be tracked via their cell throughout the mall. This, combined with security cameras and POS systems could be a game-changer in retail—what if someone knew how much you were spending, where you spent it, and where you were headed next?

However, this is sort of technology is illegal in America, but there are some gray areas and the reasonable expectation of privacy could be reevaluated. Imagine having your trusty mobile device turned into a GPS tracker for the mall, or some other corporation. What if your employer could use this sort of technology? While Path Intelligence does not disclose how their technology works, its presumable that they install devices similar to a cell tower on the premise, which would transmit a signal to nearby cell phones and receive a signal back from that phone in order to determine location.

While this is still illegal in the U.S., it could potentially threaten consumer privacy, while being a retail and mobile marketer’s dream. How do you feel about the idea of being tracked? Has mobile technology gone too far, or is this the natural progression… or have we been tracked all along? Share your thoughts by commenting below, or on our Facebook or twitter pages.

Smartphones have caused consumer purchasing behavior to change. Find out how to protect your brand in the mobile age.

The GS1 recently conducted a report in conjunction with Capgemini that explains how the smartphone is playing a critical role in consumer purchasing behavior, and what companies can do to help influence consumer behavior.

According to the report, “Beyond the Label: Providing Digital Information Consumers Can Trust,” increased smartphone usage has lead to an increase in demand from consumers for more information, which in turn, has lead to an explosion of data from a wide variety of sources.

In fact, over two-thirds of consumers want nutrition and ingredient information and over 30 percent of smartphone users have downloaded a barcode scanning app. However, depending on where their searches take them, consumers are becoming more and more frustrated with incorrect product information.

In some cases, 91 percent of mobile barcode scans returned incorrect product information, so it’s no wonder consumers are getting frustrated. What’s more, is that 38 percent of consumers will not purchase a product if they don’t trust the information they get on a smartphone, and 35 percent might stop using an app if it lead them to the wrong information.

So, what can brands do to prevent this? In some cases, such as third-party or “crowd-sourced” sites, brand managers have little control over the information posted. However, managing your brand should focus on data integrity and collaboration with other companies and sources to ensure an enhanced consumer researching experience. Learn more on how to protect your brand in the mobile age.

It’s no doubt that Apple has revolutionized the consumer experience, but how have they affected the enterprise?

Our friends at Software Advice recently posted an intriguing article on how Apple has influenced enterprise software development.

Before Apple’s consumer innovation, enterprise software would drive consumer software, but now, the tables have turned. Today’s enterprise developers are now looking to Apple for inspiration in both design and user experience. The age of IT only approving Apple products for designers is over—today, 92% of Fortune 500 companies are testing or deploying the iPad.

Because of this, enterprise software developers are turning to Apple for:

• A mobile user experience that mirrors the look and feel of Apple iOS
• Creating an ecosystem of mobile app develops
• Selling apps in their own enterprise marketplace

When it comes to design, Apple has set the precedent for look and feel, influencing everything from typography, to minimalistic style. With the advent of mobile apps, Apple design started the “Web 2.0” look—rounded corners, glossy buttons, and who could forget, reflections. Once the Apple look was mimicked by designers, developers began to mimic the user experience on Apple’s belief that everything should be intuitive.

Today, enterprise developers such as Salesforce and SAP provide app developers with a native platform to expand upon. In fact, Force.com developers have created more than 1,300 apps for Salesforce customers, mimicking the idea of opensource development and the app marketplace.

While Android phones are gaining popularity in the consumer marketplace, Apple’s iPhone was still the first popular consumer-grade smartphone that now drives the way we live, work and play.

How have you seen Apple’s influence within your enterprise? Share your thoughts by commenting below, or on our Facebook or twitter pages.

MobilePayUSA offers a mobile payment solution that doesn’t require NFC

Mobile payment has gotten a lot of buzz lately—whether it be through NFC, QR codes, or both. Now, MobliePayUSA is exploring a Point-Of-Sale (POS) payment system that would not require NFC enabled mobile devices. Their solution to mobile payment would be more secure than existing solutions. Since credit card data would be stored with a trusted 3rd party rather than on the phone itself or merchant’s servers, it would prevent hackers from stealing personal data off of smartphones.

In addition to serving as a mobile payment application, MobilePayUSA will go beyond credit cards and store debit cards, store credits, gift cards and virtual currency. Even coupons and loyalty cards will be made a part of the mobile payment application.

Currently, MobilePayUSA is working with providers to pilot their system at select Flippin’ Pizza and Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt locations in California.

I’m excited to see more non-NFC mobile payments being explored. The time for mobile payment is now, not in a few years when everyone has an NFC enabled phone. Do you think mobile payment systems like MobilePayUSA will catch on, or will the big move toward mobile payment only come with NFC? Share your thoughts by commenting below, or on our Facebook or twitter pages.