https://adtmag.com/articles/2018/10/26/nearby-connections-killed.aspx

The Nearby Notifications functionality introduced for Android phones some three years is going away as engineers noticed it was plagued by spam and irrelevant messages.

The service let developers tie an app or Web site to a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) beacon and create contextual notifications, even with no app installed. It helped users see free Wi-Fi hotspots and do things like provide guides while in a museum, and list bus schedules at bus stops.