The original idea of Google’s Nearby APIs were about making it easier for two devices to understand that they were close to one another and make it easier to connect or message each other. The idea didn’t really go anywhere, but Google is trying again by extending that idea to apps and by partnering with locations for more beacon support.
In the original announcement last year, beacons were something of an afterthought, but this time around Google has announced partnerships with The Broad Museum in LA, United Airlines, The University of Notre Dame, CVS, and Airside.
