1. Building Mobile Messaging Applications with SMS
Building Mobile Messaging Applications with SMS
Dr. Ron Vetter, PhD
Department of Computer Science
UNC Wilmington
Copyright 2008

2. 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

3. 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 -
: Move to Pocket PCs
: NSF funded “Virtual Learning Communities” Project (Tablet PCs)
2005-Present: Move to Mobile Phones

4. 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:

5. 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.

6. 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.

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

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

9. 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.

10. 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

11. CORMP Java Map Application

12. CORMP Java Map Application

13. The Short Message Service
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:
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 voic , put on hold etc. SMS at its worst is a few seconds slower than a direct voice call or Blackberry wireless 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 message tends to be read in 48 hours.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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

17. 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)

18. Email-to-SMS Gateways
Carriers provide a mechanism to turn an into an SMS message, called an -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

19. 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

20. 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 –

21. Comparison of Mobile Application Development and Cost
WAP
Java Midlet
SMS

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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¢

26. 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

27. 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.

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. UNCW Applications (Fall 2008)
1. Outlook Mobile Services –
2. Coupons –
3. Dub Hunt –
UNCW just placed 2nd in the 2008 AT&T Mobile Campus Challenge -

32. 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 (e.g., FINAID application)

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

34. Questions

35. Contact Information
Mobile Education LLC
Ron Vetter –
Jeff Brown –
Web site: