A south coast shopping centre has become first in the UK to use beacon technology, which enables retailers to contact shoppers via their mobile phones.

The technology enables retailers to acknowledge customers’ presence and deliver targeted ads through their mobile phones.

The Swan Centre in Eastleigh, Hampshire, allows shoppers inside the centre to receive discount offers from retailers straight to their phones without having to open an app or browse a website.

The service was developed by Brighton-based tech start-up TagPoints. It has rolled out its ‘TagBeacons’ platform into The Swan Centre’s SmartRewards loyalty app.

Beacons are low-energy Bluetooth devices that ‘ping’ a location message to smartphones, allowing consumers to receive location-based content and advertising.

Along with a welcome message, customers entering the centre receive 10 points to their loyalty account, which can be used in conjunction with retailers’ discount offers. As more TagBeacons are installed, shoppers will receive retailer-specific promotions.