Beacon technology, leveraging Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), is rapidly evolving, with increased interest from startups due to its potential for low-energy, one-way communication. While Apple has integrated beacon tech since the iPhone 4s, Android's support began with its Lollipop update, allowing devices like the Nexus 6 and 9 to act as beacons. Beacons emit small amounts of information over a 230-feet radius without establishing a connection, similar to a lighthouse, using minimal power—often a coin battery lasting over two years. Key protocols such as iBeacon, Estimote, and AltBeacon standardize how data is structured and transmitted, with signal strength helping estimate proximity despite environmental influences. A novel approach combines PubNub's data streaming capability with beacons, enabling bidirectional communication that maintains low energy use, exemplified by a retail scenario where a store beacon interacts with a customer's phone via PubNub channels to deliver personalized notifications. This integration showcases an enhanced beacon capability across platforms, with ongoing tutorials supporting developers in implementing these technologies.