Bluetooth tracking tests wireless airport security

AALBORG, Denmark -- BlueTags, a Bluetooth tracking technology specialist and Red-M, a developer of advanced wireless networking solutions have announced the completion of the successful wireless security trial at Billund Airport in Denmark. Over 500 passengers participated in the successful trial focusing on enhanced security, reduced waiting periods and location-based services.

In addition to the security application, the trial allowed passengers to experience an m-advertising application, giving them the opportunity to receive exclusive location-based offers via mobile phone over SMS.

Participating passengers were pre-registered in an airport membership database, submitting personal information along with specific preferences and interests regarding duty-free products. Upon arrival at the airport the passengers received an SMS welcoming them to Billund Airport and giving them an update on their flight status. Once through the security area, the passengers were forwarded exclusive tailored information based on the previously supplied interests and preferences concerning duty-free and restaurant offers.

At the core of the BlueTags concept lays a pending patent based on the capability of using Bluetooth wireless technology in tracking, monitoring and identification of objects as well as their movement within a predefined range.

Customize generic tag

As a technology house, the BlueTags business plan is to enter into partnerships with solution providers and application providers within different business areas. In collaboration with these partners, BlueTags will customize the generic tag to a segment specific application, which the partner, being the solution provider, will then bring to market.

The trial used BlueTags' tracking technology in conjunction with Red-M's Genos wirelessware infrastructure, to identify and monitor passengers from the moment they arrived in the airport until their flight departed. The system allowed for the passengers to be accurately positioned and thus assured the SMS to be sent to the individual passenger at exactly the right time according to their position. The project was carried out in collaboration with TDC, which provided the SMS network.

The BlueTags m-advertising application allows us to do just that and is therefore interesting. Furthermore, the fact that the BlueTags, utilizing Genos wirelessware infrastructure, work as a link combining both Bluetooth wireless technology and existing SMS technology, is remarkable. It opens up for many other possibilities to use the system, without having to wait for a full penetration of Bluetooth enabled mobile phones on the market.

Other scenarios

"The m-advertising application has been shown as an expansion to the security application carried out at Billund Airport and it also holds a great potential in itself," said Carlos Ostby, CEO of BlueTags. "The ability to send location based information and offers to individuals is relevant in a great deal of other scenarios, such as shopping centers, busy high streets etc, which again proves the diverse nature of the BlueTag."

BlueTags' tracking software provides tracking and positioning of customers bearing the tag, enables data storage of customer information and acts as a link between the Genos infrastructure and the customers' GSM mobile phone or PDA. Genos integrates, on a single platform, user authentication, access control, secure session management, service provisioning, quality of service, centralized network management, and a rich application programming interface (API).

"The system has proven to be very reliable and is a great value add to any airport. Now frequent flyers are not only able to move through an airport more swiftly without jeopardizing security, but they can have key and relevant information pushed to their mobile devices over the Genos wirelessware network," said Simon Gawne, vice-president and co-founder of Red-M.

Market leader

BlueTags claims the position as the market leader within the development of intelligent tags based on Bluetooth wireless technology. As one of the few companies in the world BlueTags can offer a pure Bluetooth product, which, in addition to allowing data storage, can work with the sole purpose of acting as a communicative link between various other Bluetooth units, such as mobile phones, PDA's and Bluetooth networks. The communication can also take place from a Bluetooth unit or network, through the BlueTag and on, via existing technology such as e-mail, SMS, WAP or the like.

The BlueTag can be used in applications for tracking, monitoring and identification of objects as well as their movement within a predefined area. The BlueTag can either be attached to or built in to the object you want to track and can be physically adapted to fit each individual application.

BlueTags, headquarted in Aalborg, Denmark, is a privately held company and received its seed capital from the well-known Danish bank Amagerbanken as well as from investors Oryx, Innoventure and 4JBJ. In June 2001 one of Denmark's leading venture capital businesses, InnFond, provided BlueTags with its first round funding.

Red-M based in UK

Red-M, headquartered in London, is a pioneer in advanced wireless networking solutions. Founded at the end of 1999, Red-M has consistently innovated in wireless hardware and software solutions that combine multiple local wireless technologies in a single networking platform. As the recognized leader in Bluetooth networking, Red-M has built a strong customer base where mobility and access to information is critical to the performance of the customer's business. 

Red-M's products include the 3000AS access server, 1000AP access point, and Blade personal digital assistant (PDA) expansion modules. Red-M's unique Genos architecture and wirelessware technology provides a secure and fully managed environment for the delivery of voice, video and data services across a multitude of wireless technologies (including Bluetooth and 802.11 wireless LANs) to a broad range of mobile devices including laptops, PDAs, phones and handheld computers. Red-M supplies products through a global network of systems integrations, value-added resellers, distributors, OEMs and network operators.

Red-M is backed by two of the world's leading venture capital firms, Apax Partners and Amadeus Capital Partners, as well as Intel Capital and Madge Networks. In April 2001, Red-M closed $35m in second round funding. Red-M has strategic relationships with a number of key industry players including Motorola, Computer Associates, Toshiba and Intel.