Eventbase Uses iBeacon and Urban Airship Messaging to Connect Nearby Attendees within the Cannes Lions Festival App

Networking utility and personalized, proximity-targeted messaging continue to make apps indispensable in event-based experiences

CANNES, France, June 11, 2014 – Eventbase Technology Inc., creators of the world’s most trusted event app platform, is for the first time using iBeacon™ to let attendees connect with each other at the world’s biggest celebration of creativity in communications.

Attendees at the Cannes Lions® 2014 festival, which starts June 15, will be able to use the iBeacon-powered “Around Me” feature within the official iPhone app to detect nearby attendees and connect with them.

Apple’s iBeacon technology, which utilizes the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) standard, is a game-changing technology that lets smartphone and tablet users detect beacons and interact with people and items around them. Users must opt in to the service and turn on Bluetooth on their iOS7 device.

Eventbase co-founder Jeff Sinclair says the Cannes Lions app combines the power of iBeacon technology with tight LinkedIn integration to allow attendees to see who is around them, read their profile and immediately reach out to them through the app.

“We’re excited to be pioneering the use of iBeacon technology for attendee-to-attendee networking,” says Sinclair. “The ability to find out more about the people around you and instantly connect has the potential to transform the event experience entirely.”

Eventbase is partnering with mobile relationship management platform Urban Airship to deliver highly targeted and relevant messages via iBeacon-triggered push notifications to attendees during the event, including those visiting the festival’s Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) Tent—a showcase for mobile, creativity and marketing innovation.

Additionally, visitors to an exhibit of award finalists can expect beacon-triggered prompts from the Cannes Lions app offering more information about the specific campaign they are looking at. Users can read background information on the producer and campaign.

Eventbase pioneered iBeacon technology at events with the official app for South by Southwest (SXSW) in March 2014 with messaging also powered by Urban Airship. iBeacon and BLE technology is now available in the latest version of the Eventbase Premium Event App product.

“Eventbase is redefining the value of event apps using iBeacons to better fulfill the very reason people attend—to learn, network and make connections,” said Scott Kveton, co-founder and CEO of Urban Airship. “Core, streamlined utility like this will continue to make apps and proximity an indispensable part of any venue-based experience, reminding you not only of where to go and when, but who and what to connect with while there.”

About Eventbase
Eventbase (formerly known as Xomo) is the world’s most trusted event app platform. Eventbase enhances the attendee experience by providing a feature-rich, location-aware, native event app with ground-breaking innovations including Session Live audience engagement and iBeacon micro-location interactions. Eventbase Premium powers official native apps for the largest events on earth, including South By Southwest (SXSW), three Olympic Games (Vancouver 2010, London 2012 and Sochi 2014), Spring Fair (UK’s largest tradeshow), Sundance Film Festival and Lollapalooza. Eventbase also offers Eventbase Free, a self-service app that's perfect for events of any size – including conferences, festivals, sport and community events. Visit www.eventbase.com or follow us on Twitter @EventbaseTech.

About Urban Airship
Urban Airship enables brands to build relationships with their constantly connected customers through Mobile Relationship Management. Its solutions streamline the creation, delivery and management of highly targeted cross-platform mobile push messages, in-app messages, rich app pages, Apple Passbook passes and Google Wallet cards. With billions of messages and tens of thousands of passes delivered each month, Urban Airship’s technology sparks exceptional consumer experiences, drives app engagement and increases customer loyalty and lifetime value for the world’s largest retail, media & entertainment, sports and travel & hospitality brands. For more information, visit www.urbanairship.com and follow us on Twitter @urbanairship.

About Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity
June 15-21, 2014, Palais des Festivals, Cannes, France
The International Festival of Creativity, also known as Cannes Lions, is the world's leading celebration of creativity in communications. Founded in 1954, the Festival takes place every June in Cannes, France.

As the most prestigious international annual advertising and communications awards, over 37,400 entries from 97 countries are showcased and judged at the Festival. Winning companies receive the highly coveted Lion trophy, a global benchmark of creative excellence. The Festival is also the only truly global meeting place for advertisers, advertising and communication professionals.  More than 12,000 delegates from 95 countries attend a week-long programme of exhibitions, screenings and talks by worldwide thought leaders. As the networking and learning opportunity of the year, Cannes Lions is the must-attend event for anyone involved in brand communications.  Visit www.canneslions.com or follow us on Twitter @Cannes_Lions.