Apple secretly released a mysterious application "Indoor Survey", what is its identity?



A mysterious app that Apple does not catch on the search of the App Store "Indoor Survey"It has become a hot topic in part because it was released. Apparently this is a mystery-rich application, but apparently it is seen as part of the software that allows you to decide where you are in the room by using radio waves.

Apple indoor positioning app 'Indoor Survey' spotted on iOS App Store
http://appleinsider.com/articles/15/11/02/apple-indoor-positioning-app-indoor-survey-spotted-on-ios-app-store

The existence of the application was revealed to the following tweets that Tweet by developer Steve Troughton - Smith tweeted. A captured image with the name of "Indoor Survey" appended is added along with the phrase "I have never seen an Apple application!"

Under the application name is written "Enable indoor positioning (Approach indoor position)", apparently this isIBeaconIt will be informed that it is an application that has the function of grasping the position of yourself without using GPS as shown in the picture below.


"Indoor Survey" seems not to be displayed on the search page of the Apple Store,This linkClick to open iTunes so you can install the app.


This screen when opening the application. Some seem to be in Japanese, and the application name is displayed as "Survey App". I tried authentication with putting my Apple ID and password on this screen ... ...


"Authorization Failed" is displayed and it was not authenticated.


In the explanation of the application written on the iTunes screen, you can display the position in the place you are walking around by dropping "Point" to the map in "Survey App". In that case , The survey app measures the radio frequency signal and matches it with the data from the iPhone's sensor.As a result, positioning in the room becomes possible without adding any special hardware. " And the outline is written and it turned out that it is an application aimed at acquiring indoor location information based on radio signal and movement of the main sensor.


The technology used here is a startup that Apple bought for 20 million in 2013 (at that time rate of about ¥ 90 billion, about 1.8 billion yen)WifiSLAMIt is seen as a positioning technology. WiFiSLAM was a young startup for just two years of establishment, but it was talked about being bought by Apple in a blink of an eye.

Apple buys 'indoor GPS' company WifiSLAM for $ 20 M


WiFiSLAM technology "indoor position information measurement" is to detect the position of an object within an error range of several meters using only the communication radio waves of Wi-Fi access points arranged in multiple buildings. Although iBeacon and others that used the Bluetooth function existed as the same technology so far, iBeacon needs to install a dedicated transmitter, whereas WiFiSLAM technology is Wi - Fi access As long as there are points, it seems that it is a big point that it can be used anywhere. Details on WiFiSLAM are also described in detail on the following pages.

ASCII.jp: Next Generation "Indoor" Location Information Technology (1/2), Apple Challenges to Acquire WifiSLAM
http://ascii.jp/elem/000/000/775/775459/

"Acquiring and utilizing location information indoors" means that the method of utilizing it is to grasp the position of customers in the store and to display effective advertisements or to use dedicated It is possible to use content such as providing content. In order to know what is behind this application, when you tap "this developer's website" on the App Store screen ... ...


The browser launched and the "Apple Maps Connect" screen was displayed (you need to access from the PC or iPad to browse the page). Apparently, "Indoor Survey" seems to be related to content provision service using Apple map.


When logging in with the Apple ID from this screen, a registration screen for using the service is displayed. From the fact that "Small Business" is written on the screen, it is thought that future development will be promoted as a service targeting the business operator.

Related Posts:

in Mobile,   Software, Posted by darkhorse_log