Ever since iBeacon made its debut on the iPhone in 2013, it's been heralded as the next big thing for retailers. Using the Bluetooth low energy radio on your smartphone, iBeacon technology can track your location within a few feet of where you are and push you special deals and advertisements onto your phone as you pass by stores. But so far, we've yet to see much uptake with retailers. Now it seems that McDonald's is stepping up to the plate.

Forbes reports that "It looks like McDonald's is taking the plunge with 26 McDonald's franchises in Columbus, Georgia have been testing out the technology with its customers. In a four week trial, these fast food joints have been pushing special deals for McChicken Sandwiches and 10-piece Chicken McNuggets. The promotions pushed McChicken Sandwich sales up 8 percent and Chicken McNuggets up 7.5 percent.

Robert Hanczor, the CEO of San Diego-based iBeacon startup Piper, which made the app for McDonald's to send the promotions stated that "In the fast food world, those are big numbers," adding that "They saw significant statistical change in consumer behavior."

Based on these initial results, Piper is working on rolling out iBeacon programs to other McDonald's franchises in the southeast for an additional 263 retail locations.

For more on this story, read Aaron Tilley's full report. For other iBeacon developments, see our archives.

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