: Using GPS via a user's phone to trigger notifications when they enter a specific geographic area.
: A low-cost, friction-free way to bridge physical and digital worlds.
: In 2018, Google stopped delivering these notifications at the OS level, requiring users to have a specific app installed to interact with beacons. Can You Still Buy and Use Them? buy google beacons
: Some browsers and third-party scanners still support broadcasting URLs directly, though this is now a niche use case. Modern Alternatives in 2026
: Native "Nearby Notifications" often led to unwanted spam for users. : Using GPS via a user's phone to
If your goal is proximity marketing or location-based services, consider these current alternatives: : Still widely supported for iOS apps.
: If you have your own app, you can use beacons to trigger custom events (like a welcome message) when a customer enters your store. Can You Still Buy and Use Them
While Google's "Beacon Dashboard" is gone, these devices can still be used for: