The document provides an overview of mobile technologies, including definitions and examples of SMS, USSD, mobile applications, and mobile websites. It discusses how mobile users interact with these technologies and the infrastructure required for services like bulk SMS and mobile banking. The document also highlights best practices for mobile website development and mentions various mobile technologies such as IVR and SIM toolkit programming.

1. An Overview of Mobile Technologies
Michael Wakahe on behalf of Computer
Society of Kenya (CSK)
ICT Training
Nzoia Sugar Company
Dec 2011

2. Table of Contents
• Definition of Mobile
• SMS
• USSD
• Mobile Applications
• Mobile Websites
• Other Mobile Technologies

3. Definition of Mobile
• User and not necessarily technology is mobile
• User is mobile - on the move
• User is interruptible and easily distracted
• Use of mobile service is contextual

4. SMS
• Definition: Short Message Service
• GSM standard
• Person-to-Person, Person-to-System, System-
to-Person
• Examples of Person-to-System & System-to-
Person: Bulk SMS & Short Code

5. SMS
• Short Code & Bulk SMS require access to operator
SMS gateway
• Bulk SMS are prepaid while short codes charge
subscriber
• Modems can be attached to a computer &
programmed
• Many low level technologies involved in successful
delivery of SMS

6. USSD
• Unstructured Supplementary Service Data
• Suitable for session based interaction
• Examples of applications include airtime top
up, mobile banking, Mpesa, network operator
service selection

7. USSD
• Service provider has to connect to operator
USSD gateway
• Interactivity with USSD gateways is not yet
standardized
• Billing is session based
• Service provider hosts interaction logic in
software - similar to short codes

8. Mobile Applications
• Different frameworks and OS running on
phones
• Apps are installable software
• Programmable with developer toolkits
• Utilize Internet capabilities of handset (GPRS)

9. Mobile Applications

10. Mobile Applications
• Provisioning: WAP download, SMS Push,
Bluetooth, pre-installed
• App Store as a market place
• Examples: Nokia Ovi, Google Android Market
Place, Apple App Store

11. Mobile Websites
• Device capabilities are fragmented
• Therefore different interaction with Internet
• Mobile websites have device awareness &
content adaptation
• Adapt to context of handset

12. Mobile Websites
• Many standards involved including WML,
XHTML, HTML5
• Reuse of traditional desktop standards
• Content adaptation example: replace Flash
with static images
• Best practices e.g. multiple navigation bars,
terse information, shallow click stream

13. Mobile Apps & Websites

14. Other Mobile Technologies
• Interactive Voice Response (IVR)
• SIM Toolkit Programming

15. Demos
• Java Mobile Application Demo
• App Store Demo
• SMS Demo

16. Shujaa SMS Gateway Schematic

17. Credits
Michael Wakahe, Software Developer &
Entrepreneur
Shujaa Solutions Ltd
www.shujaa.co.ke
michael@shujaa.co.ke
Questions?