USSD development help

[Juwonlo Ibigbami]

Hello Ranchers,
I will like some one to help me with on how to go about UDDS development.
References links and text book recommendation of USSD development will go a long way.
I have mobile application development experience end blackbeberyy development as well.
My company recently has something to and has commissioned me to be in charge. a help, as usual will be highly appreciated

Thanks - Juwon

[Paul Clapham]

Seems to me the first step should be to figure out what your topic is.

So... is it UDDS? Or is it USSD? And when you figure that out, could you tell us what it means so we don't have to spend our time searching the web to find out what you're asking about?

[Mike Gari]

You know that USSD is server side development ? , So it's not as mobile development (j2me,blackberry ...) .

What do you want to do ?

[Juwonlo Ibigbami]

Hello,
Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) is a protocol used by GSM cellular telephones to communicate with the service provider's computers. USSD can be used for WAP browsing, prepaid callback service, mobile-money services, location-based content services, menu-based information services, and as part of configuring the phone on the network.

i want to have a USSD skill, from the front end to the back end, i need text books and other materials.
Can anyone be of help?

Thanks - Juwonlo

[Mike Gari]

Hi Juwonlo,

USSD is already implemented on the telecom operator side , If you want to learn the protocol for the USSD Gateway and how it is implemented in the operator
, you have to learn SS7 Protocol .

But if you need to build applications based on USSD you have integrate with the telecom gateway that will forward the Request/Response for you.

[Juwonlo Ibigbami]

Thanks Ala,
We have a deployed solution in house.
We are already connected to a telcos (Etisalate nigeria) and they are routing the short code requests to out server inhouse which already have a 3rd party application that processes the request and send responses appropriately. we will like to work on or improve on the 3rd party application and therefore need the skills that will enable me do more on the 3rd party application.

In what language can such 3rd party application?
How will i communicate as in send out responses and accept inputs?
How will the do some other things?

Help me out please.

Thanks - Juwonlo

[Mike Gari]

In what language can such 3rd party application?

Your preferred language , Personally I Prefer Java.

How will i communicate as in send out responses and accept inputs?

The communication method depends on the Operator Side . each Operator should define an interface for communication for EX :
TCP Socket ,Web Service , HTTP and etc .....

-Detailed Example : for Web Service
The Operator will ask you to define Web Service that accept some Parameters the most common needed parameters (MSISDN , IMSI ,Message).
When the mobile client initiate a USSD session on the mobile , the Request will be received in the Operator USSD Gateway then the operator will call the web service that you've defined it . then your responsibility is to handle the parameters and build your own flow to return a response for the Operator.

How will the do some other things?

The operator shall give you the full instructions on how to do the integration .
But the common points from your side is

1.Session Management.
2.Work Flow (As your Business ).

[Juwonlo Ibigbami]

Thanks Alaa,
You said you prefer Java, Is it the normal Plain old Java or what?
Please do you have any reference link that i can read more on how to go about the development?
can you recommend a text book to buy?
How do you go about your learning processes on USSD?

Thanks - Juwon

[Mike Gari]

You said you prefer Java, Is it the normal Plain old Java or what?

it's JAVA (J2SE Sockets,J2EE Servlets or SOAP Web Services....) .you can do it in C++,C# ... but it's not a J2ME Application.

Please do you have any reference link that i can read more on how to go about the development?

can you recommend a text book to buy?

The operator will give you instructions . i didn't search for a reference link because it depends on the Operator.
www.leibict.com is USSD Gateway Provider .

How do you go about your learning processes on USSD?

Well, It's something that i work on for many years .

Thanks.

[Juwonlo Ibigbami]

Thanks alaa, your comments went a long way giving me a direction to how i should go about application development for ussd gateway rather than ussd application development that i though.

One more thing please, i have read USSD in JME is not possible, do you agree with that?
Is there a work around?

Thanks - Juwon

[Mike Gari]

Thanks.

Actually I didn't try to access the USSD from J2ME Client , but I think it depends on the handset .

You have to make sure of that point .

Thanks .