Building Mobile Messaging Applications with SMS http://people.uncw.edu/vetterr/acm2008.ppt Building Mobile Messaging Applications with SMS Dr. Ron Vetter, PhD Department of Computer Science UNC Wilmington Copyright 2008

Outline History of Mobile Development at UNCW Definitions and Terms Comparison of Mobile Application Development Models and Cost The Short Message Service (or SMS) Mobile Education, LLC Questions

History of Mobile Development at UNCW 1999: Wireless Network Rollout 2000: Project Numina Focus on handheld computers and science/math Applications: SRS and GraphData See web site - http://uncdub.net/numina/ 2001-2003: Move to Pocket PCs 2004-2006: NSF funded “Virtual Learning Communities” Project (Tablet PCs) 2005-Present: Move to Mobile Phones

Mobile Phone Facts In 1995, roughly 13 percent of the U.S. population had cell phones. By 2006, it was 76 percent. Today, there are approximately 229 million cellular subscribers in the U.S. Wireless services generate more than $113 billion in revenues annually. Source: http://www.ctia.org/media/industry_info/index.cfm/AID/10323

Definitions and Terms WAP – Wireless Application Protocol SMS – Short Message Service SMSC – Short Message Service Center CSC – Common Short Code Let’s look at each of these items in turn.

WAP Many phones have browsers that are like small versions of desktop web browsers. Phone browsers are designed to display WAP which is similar to HTML but much simpler. WAP is the de-facto world standard for the presentation and delivery of wireless information and telephony services on mobile phones. Standard web servers can serve WAP as well as HTML.

UNCW WAP Applications 1. CORMP: live weather and ocean data from buoys The screen at the right shows links to all of the buoys.

CORMP WAP Application Selecting a link shows the current conditions at that buoy.

UNCW WAP Applications 2. UNCW Directory 3. RSS News Feeds BOTTOM LINE: If it is available online, then we can make it available through WAP.

UNCW Java Applications Installing a Java application on a phone is easier than installing an application on a PC. Application can be installed by clicking a link in a WAP page. Development Platform: SUN Java Wireless Toolkit

CORMP Java Map Application

CORMP Java Map Application

The Short Message Service http://people.uncw.edu/vetterr/acm2008.ppt The Short Message Service Defined in 1985 Purpose to allow simple communication between mobile devices First SMS message sent early 90’s Fastest form of communication when counterpart not able to take a call Few seconds slower than direct voice call Faster by hours or days when compared to other forms of communication Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_message_service SMS is the fastest form of communication if measured by actual communication throughput including instances such as the counterpart not being able to take a call, being out of radio coverage, listening to voicemail, put on hold etc. SMS at its worst is a few seconds slower than a direct voice call or Blackberry wireless e-mail etc, but in the best case is faster by hours or even days than any other form of communication. SMS messages tend to be read within 30 minutes where an email message tends to be read in 48 hours.

SMS SMS is a service available on most digital mobile phones Message size 160 – 7 bit characters 140 – 8 bit characters 70 – 16 bit characters No formatting – just straight text Can be used with automated systems, such as ordering products and services, or participating in contests.

SMSC When a user sends a text message to another user, the phone actually sends the message to the SMSC. The SMSC stores the message and then delivers it to the destination user when they are available. This is a store and forward operation. The SMSC usually has a configurable time limit for how long it will store the message, and users can usually specify a shorter time limit if they want.

CSC Common short codes are numbers to which text messages can be sent from a mobile phone. Wireless subscribers send text messages to short codes with relevant keywords to access a wide variety of mobile content. CSCs are compatible across participating carriers and are currently defined as 5 or 6 digit numbers. Interactive SMS requires a CSC

Message Aggregators Maintains connections with carriers’ SMSCs using Short Message Peer-to-Peer Protocol (SMPP) Provide API for mobile content service providers to connect to their servers Provision CSC with cell phone carriers (provisioning takes approximately 3 months)

Email-to-SMS Gateways Carriers provide a mechanism to turn an email into an SMS message, called an Email-to-SMS Gateway They are one-way → the recipient cannot reply to the message Carriers filter for spam and may block access to the gateway Carriers provide this service as a courtesy and may discontinue the service at any time

SMS System Architecture SMSC SMPP SS7 SMPP Content Server & Software Apps SMS API SMSC SMS Broker SS7 SMPP SMS SMSC Mobile User Service Providers Aggregator Content Provider

Web Site – http://www.uncw.edu/mobile UNCW SMS Applications Scheduling Messages Reminder Service Daily Event Information Notification (e.g., opening in class) Interactive Messages Shuttle Bus Information Word Utilities Web Site – http://www.uncw.edu/mobile

Comparison of Mobile Application Development and Cost WAP Java Midlet SMS

WAP Applications Advantages: Inexpensive to provide Development is straightforward Familiar web browser based interface Disadvantages: Compatibility across devices is problematic Very few users are comfortable with using the browser on their phone Data plans are expensive

Java Applications Advantages: Rich, graphical environment Easy to install Disadvantages: Program must be tested for different phones, and even for different carriers with the same phone Development is complicated and time consuming

SMS Applications Advantages: Disadvantages: Many students already use text messages Creating and sending SMS is easier than opening browser or starting a Java application Disadvantages: Cost to send and receive messages Stateful behavior is difficult to emulate

Cost Models: WAP vs SMS Interactive WAP: Interactive SMS: Fixed, Recurring, and Marginal costs are the same as those of providing HTML services, such as the existing HTML directory service. Interactive SMS: Startup ~$2000 Monthly ~$1500 SMS Send/Receive ~6¢

Reaching Students: WAP vs. SMS Recent survey of 188 UNCW students 82% use SMS 10% use WAP American Idol Effect: SMS popularity growing Students cite high cost of data plan as one reason for not using WAP browsers SMS much easier to use than WAP

SMS Statistics In 2000 – 14.4 million text messages/month. In 2006 – 18.7 billion text messages/month. In 2008 – 30 billion text messages/month Average cost of a text message = $0.20 According to figures from CTIA, the international association for the wireless telecommunications industry.

Faculty Start-Up Company Focus on the commercial development of advanced mobile computing applications originating from UNCW. Emphasis on interactive 2-way SMS interfaces to applications Explore use of WAP Push to lead users toward WAP interfaces

Mobile Education, LLC A faculty start-up company providing mobile message content services Working with an SMS aggregator to provision a common short code (90947) Will share the common short code across multiple institutions in order to reduce costs Initial focus will be on the higher education market

UNCW Applications (Fall 2007) 1. Subscribe to receive daily campus events 2. Emergency broadcast messages 3. Interactive shuttle bus information 4. Integration with Banner – request grade information and notification when a seat becomes available 5. Interactive movie schedule

UNCW Applications (Fall 2008) 1. Outlook Mobile Services – http://oms.uncw.edu 2. Coupons – http://www.CouponsToYourPhone.com 3. Dub Hunt – http://www.DubHunt.com UNCW just placed 2nd in the 2008 AT&T Mobile Campus Challenge - http://higheredcontest.wireless.att.com/main/default.aspx

Customized Applications Mobile Education will work with institutions to make their content available via SMS. This includes: Public data published via RSS Back office information via secure queries Integration with Email (e.g., FINAID application)

Carrier’s Supported Cingular/AT&T Verizon T-Mobile Sprint Nextel Boost Alltel Virgin Mobile US Cellular Cellular 1

Questions

Contact Information Mobile Education LLC Ron Vetter – ronvetter@myMobEd.com Jeff Brown – jeffbrown@myMobEd.com Web site: http://myMobEd.com