Here we go again. Apple has launched yet another new update for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Any time Apple releases a new operating system (OS), updates are free and are available to download wirelessly on all iDevices the moment they’re released. The new iOS 7 update is the biggest change yet released for Apple’s operating system. Not only is the visual style completely different, but there have been many changes to the way the device runs.

The iOS 7 update is more sophisticated than past Apple operating systems. The camera is equipped with the new burst mode feature, allowing you to shoot multiple shots successively simply by tapping. Apple’s new photos app applies some basic organization to the picture library. It is now easier to find photos by using the option to browse albums based on location and date. Apple has also introduced iTunes radio where users can build stations around artists, songs, or genres of their choosing. Unlike Pandora, users can listen to iTunes Radio completely ad-free when they subscribe to iTunes Match. iTunes Match is a service that’s built into the latest version of iTunes. It allows users to match, upload, and play music on a variety of different devices. Along with this, there is so much more available in the iOS 7 update, including new sounds, dynamic wallpapers, and changes to the layout of the calendar, notes, and reminders.

How does the iOS 7 benefit Mobile Marketers? 

With the new iOS 7 update, there are features that can be very useful for mobile marketing. AirDrop is a feature on the Apple desktop. With the iOS 7 update, AirDrop is now available for mobile users. AirDrop allows users to share files over Wi-Fi. Now, when doing business, it is possible to receive information without having to exchange personal information such as an email address or phone number. For instance, if  a customer is at Home Depot and needs “how to instructions”, a store associate will be able to share the information with AirDrop without having to get the customer’s personal contact information.

iBeacons are also a very interesting feature of iOS 7. The iBeacon technology is a step forward in location-based marketing. iBeacons are an implementation of the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) profile which enables very precise micro-location. iBeacons can be used by businesses of all kinds to find out exactly where people are, allowing them to interact with customers on the go. Developers give each beacon an identifier, then add code to their apps to ask the user’s phone to notify the app when identified. Department stores can place several iBeacons in strategic locations around the store. With the iOS 7 update, they can then determine the user’s position relative to those iBeacons, help them locate specific items on a shelf, or provide context-sensitive information such as product reviews or advertisements. An iBeacon placed at a store’s checkout counter and synced with the retailer’s point of sale system would be able to sense the customer’s iOS device. After the cashier scans the items, it asks the customer to authorize payment with their fingerprint.

Apple confirmed that iOS 7 has been downloaded onto 200 million iOS devices. With so many people using the new update, it is important to stay up to date on its features and new capabilities. Mobile marketers, retailers, and businesses are now able to reach to their customers through their iPhones in ways that were not possible before.