Chapter_1a: Mobile App

Ecosystems
SKR4307
Semester I 2022/2023
12th October 2022
 1. The Mobile Ecosystem (ME)
• “Collection of multiple devices (?),
software (?), companies (?), etc., and
process by which data (?) is
transferred/shared by a user from
one device to another device … ”

• Data (text, mm, voice) – sharing

between devices (same OS or different
OS)
• Data – shared between multiple
devices with same OS of the same
manufacturer.
1.1 ME layers
 … cont.

1. Process/services:
– mobile is manufactured with necessary software &
applications
– users buy devices and subscribe to plans with carriers.
– from time to time – new apps / features uploaded /
upgraded in the device.

2. Mobile manufacturer/devices:
– E.g., …

3. OS:
– Important component – control/operates applications
– E.g., IOS, Android, Symbian, BlackBerry, Windows
ME …
4. Mobile App Development tools:
– Android  Eclipse, AS, IntelliJ …
– IOS  Xcode
– Flutter

5. Mobile Web Development tools:

– HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript …

6. Mobile App Testing tools:

– Emulator, Mobile cloud, Mobile testing tools

7. Mobile Store
– Google Play, Apps Store

8. Ad Companies
– E.g., Google AdMob, Unity Ads -
https://www.gameplaydeveloper.com/unity-ads-vs-admob-which-earns-more/
– https://www.trustedmalaysia.com/best-digital-marketing-agencies-malaysia/

9. Carrier/Network/Operators
2. Operators
• Make ENTIRE ME works.
• ROLE – create and maintain wireless services over a reliable cellular
network.
– 99.99999 %

Install cellular tower

REF: https://www.opensignal.com/reports/2020/04/malaysia/mobile-network-experience
3. Evolution: Mobile Network

A high-level overview of 1G to 5G. Image used courtesy of Fizza et al

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… cont.

• Have been around for 40 years – see a new generation of mobile

networks nearly every ten years.

• 1st commercial mobile network – launched around 1980.

– Many technologies – shaping the mobile communication industry.
– Abundance of terminologies – acronyms and abbreviations that
represent the different technologies.
– Dives into the definitions of all the different generations of mobile
networks – 1G, 2G, 3G 4G and 5G.
… cont.
• 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G – represent the five generations of mobile networks
• G – ‘Generation’
• 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 – generation number (every ten years).
• Each generation of mobile networks has a set of requirements that are fulfilled by the
cellular technologies that enable the generation.
• E.g., AMPS, GSM, UMTS, CDMA2000 and LTE etc.

https://commsbrief.com/what-do-the-terms-1g-2g-3g-4g-and-5g-really-mean/
4. App. Frameworks – Native environment
Apps written in the Java ME frameworks can often be
Java
deployed across most Java-based devices.
Application can be often be deployed across the majority
BREW
BREW-based devices.
Flash Lite 2.0 & Action Script 2.0 – run using Flash Lite
Flash Lite
Player
Window Mobile Win32 API deployed across Windows Mobile-based
6 devices
Cocoa Touch Deployed on iPhones and iPod Touches
Web Support WAP 2.0 and run using a mobile web browser.
 Android Architecture

Flutter Architecture
5. PDA to Smartphone

Apple Newton: 1st PDA introduced in 1992

• Personal data management and personal productivity
applications & No phone capability
Offline and regular synchronization/backup as the initial model

Online (or at least occasional online) went through several stages:

• Dial-up services (modem) for Internet connectivity
• IrDA for synchronization with other devices
• Bluetooth for synchronization with other devices
• Cell phone data services (GPRS, EDGE, 3G, 3G+) as
advanced dial-up
• Wi-Fi for using hotspots and home/office networks
19
… cont.

• Smartphone – be the new term for PDA

– Advanced computing – ability and connectivity than that of a contemporary basic
featured phone
– Runs a complete OS and provides SDK platform for application
developments
• Android
• Flutter
• iOS
• Windows ME
 5. Mobile Apps – @ App

• Type of application software designed to

run on a mobile device (e.g., smartphone
or tablet computer)

• Designed with consideration for the

demands and constraints of the devices
and to take advantage of any specialized
capabilities they have
– Gaming app – might take advantage of the
iPhone's accelerometer.
 • New technologies – adapted by consumers as they
become not only a part of our day to day lives, but are
interwoven into the fabric of our society.
5.1 Why apps?
• New TECH+BUSINESS+OLOGY drives our culture
& economy. 22
• COVID-19 – demonstrated how important DIGITAL SERVICES are to the
world.
• As more and more people work from home, reliance on mobile applications for
grocery shopping, food delivery, and communication become an essential part of
life.
5.2 App Categories
Category Example Challenge Opportunity
Multimedia & Mobile as a distribution
Games, Toys, Comics Creativity
Entertainment platform
Facebook, Dropbox, Ubiquity, Broader Mobile as a distribution
Service Endpoint
Insta service space platform
Utility / “better” product,
Translator, Calculator, Little
Productivity UI/UX
Bookstore, Music, Creativity, evolving
Content
Video/, TV Google around content type, Licensing
Dissemination
Map, Travel guide not moving fast
Tracking, eCommerce, Mobile as a distribution
Transactional Business model
VoIP/IM/VoD platform

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5.3 Mobile Website

• Use of BROWSER-BASED
INTERNET SERVICES, from
a handheld mobile device,
connected to a mobile network
or other wireless network.
… cont.

• Constant online access to the Internet from a mobile

device /tablet
– Internet-connected applications,
– Browser-based access
• Mobile web primarily make use of lightweight pages
– cHTML / WML / xHTML
• New mobile browsers are moving beyond these limitations by
supporting range of web format
– e.g., HTML5 and CSS
• Interoperability issues due to platform fragmentation
– Mobile device / Mobile OS / Browsers
26
 i. Display
– Display of different sizes and
composition
6. Mobile – E.g., AMOLED, LCD, Super
Specification LCD, Retina, PPI
– Bigger display look better but
drain battery life.
– AMOLED – brighter and
produce richer color
– LCD – render text better

ii. Processor
– Getting into dual core and
quad core territory (e.g., 800
Mhz, 1/1.2/1.5 GHz,
Snapdragon, Tegra, …
– Faster processor designed to
use extra power
… cont. iii. RAM
– Allows device to run
multiple apps
simultaneously and various
task in the background.
– Some OS need more RAM,
some function with lesser
amount
– E.g., Android vs Windows
 iv. Camera
– Integral part of smartphones
– 3.2/5/8/12/41 Megapixels, Auto
Focus, Shooting Modes, HD
… cont. video
– Lens quality, software and
presence option (e.g.,
autofocus) make world of
difference

v. Battery
– Battery capacity (mAH) –
determines how long phone
keeps working
– Li-ion, mAh, removable, non-
removable
– High mAh count – offer better
backup
 iv. Device connectivity
– Wired and wireless technologies
embedded on mobile devices
– USB On-The-Go, HDMI, Bluetooth
… cont. 2.0/2.1/3.0, Wi-Fi
– iOS vs Windows devices – do not
let send files over Bluetooth

v. Mobile Internet Connectivity

– Smartphone comes with sort of
Internet connectivity via the
operator’s data services
– HSPA, HSDPA, 3G, 3.5G, 4G,
GPRS/EDGE
– The slower (and cheaper)
GPRS/EDGE – often suffice for
basic browsing and email.
 v. OS/Platform
– Software that makes the
… cont. phone work, handling basic
tasks like calling, texting as
well as more complex ones
like mail and Web browsing.
– Most OS offer similar
functions and features – e-
mail, social network
connectivity and support for
basic functions like calls and
texting.
– Tile/icon driven interface
versus menu-based interface
 … cont.

iv. Apps
– bits of software that let do a host of
tasks, from browsing the Web to
playing games to tweaking images.
– Associated terms – Apps,
applications, app stores, marketplace,
developers.
– Most app stores feature regularly
updated lists of the most popular, top
rated and new apps
– These lists can give you a better idea
of the kind of apps being released for
a device.
7. App Characteristics• Mobile app development – larger field and
still enormously growing industry across
the globe
– Created new opportunities of modern
businesses and introduced new
technologies

• Most common attributes – largely based

on service design level
– If used wisely then the apps will be
useful covering user’s requirements
 7.1 Connectivity
• Device – continuously logged into mobile
network as the apps are constantly online.
 Users' information and notifications being pressed to
app as they are accessible.
 An important characteristic of mobile application to
be available anywhere.

• The ability of push – essential in growing apps

on every Smartphone as this characteristic keep
the app in user minds.
 7.2 Localization
• Localize info and the opportunity to provide
position-based information – craft mobility stunning
and practical.
 Works like elimination of chaff from the wheat, thus
embeds the app according to user context.

• The feature may not be perfect for every apps

 But it a good thinking to associate location with note or
photo and limiting possible options and/or sorting places.
 The feature beautifully adds good user experience.
7.3 Convenience
• A simple & emotional design –
guarantees high value &
acceptance among users.
 Overall usability and information
structure must be planned
carefully to build a joyful and fit
interaction flow.
• Good content – plus point while
analyzing user requirements and
crafting useful idea out of this is
also essential.
 • Covers additional trait provided
7.4 Approachable by the mobile app's nature.
• An excellent app can really be
used any time at any place as
reach ability becomes full time
availability.
 This feature is in the sense of up-
to-date information and
usefulness.
 Think of time aware options and
relevant content round the clock.
 • Creating individualized
7.5 content based on
Individualization/ personalized context or
usage.
Personalization  Everyone wish that my
application should fit my
needs and behave like what I
want to do.
 This specific feature not
only covers personalized
content but wants to control
over shared and store data
for more actions.
 7.6 Security
• Aspects of transferred data over network via
carrier network.
 Applications sync data with online, web apps – the
storage of the information on server must be secure.
 Another critical security breach – the mobile device
itself as I do not want anybody to play with my cell
phone.
• Every software service provider offer the
application development services
 Mature companies seriously care about these
characteristics and features to give ultimate mobile
app to end user.
8. App
architecture
• Set of technologies and
models for the development
of fully-structured mobile
programs
• Based on industry and
vendor-specific standards.

• Developing the architecture

of app
• Must consider programs that
work on wireless devices such
as smartphones and tablets.
 … cont.

• 3 main layers:
i. Presentation Layer – contains UI
components as well as the components
processing them.
ii. Business Layer – composed of workflows,
business entities and components.
iii. Data layer – comprises data utilities, data
access components and service agents.
 8.1 Things to consider in
developing apps

• App architecture – CRUCIAL to the

success of the mobile app development
• Keep in mind the following factors:
(LECT_1a_extra)
o Determining device type
o Considering bandwidth scenarios
o Defining user interface
o Picking the right navigation method
 Your Further Reading

• Mobile App Development Process

– https://thebhwgroup.com/blog/mobile-app-
development-process