An Overview of

Mobile Systems and Ecosystems

CSE 3203

Overview of Mobile Systems

Jack G. ZhengFall 2018https://www.edocr.com/v/dao4xlgy/jgzheng/Mobile-System-Overview

http://jackzheng.net/teaching/cse3203

• Mobile is the internet

• Mobile is the new central ecosystem of tech

• Mobile means an ecosystem and that

ecosystem will swallow ‘PCs’

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Benedict Evans

https://www.ben-evans.com/benedictevans/2015/12/15/16-mobile-theses

St. Peter's Basilica at

the Vatican

http://photoblog.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/14/17312316-witnessing-papal-

history-changes-with-digital-age

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Content Overview

• What is a mobile system?

• What is a mobile ecosystem? What does it consists of?

– Operator/Carrier

– Connection

– Device

– OS/platform

– Application

– Services

– Application development

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Mobile System

• A mobile system is an system of applications and services that centered around mobile devices for computing and information needs

– Mobile devices (hardware): movable, easy-to-carry, and fully functional devices

• A mobile system is not just a hardware concept but also includes software and services

– Software: OS, applications

– Service: network, data/information, web, business, etc.

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Fast Growing of Mobile Systems

• The Internet and Web grows fast; this growth is driven by the mobile usage

• Key reports and forecast from Cisco– https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/assets/sol/sp/vni/forecast_highlights_mobile/index.html

– The infographic https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/service-provider/visual-networking-index-vni/vni-infographic.html

– http://blogs.cisco.com/sp/top-5-surprises-from-the-2017-mobile-vni-study

– Cisco Mobile Visual Networking Index (VNI) Forecast: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/service-provider/visual-networking-index-vni/index.html#~mobile-forecast

• Exponential growth of mobile usage for the past 5 years– FCC mobile wireless competition report https://www.fcc.gov/reports-

research/reports/mobile-wireless-competition-reports

– https://www.gsmaintelligence.com: live numbers

– KPCB Internet Trends https://www.kleinerperkins.com/perspectives/internet-trends-report-2018

• Mobile is the new central ecosystem of information transaction needs– http://ben-evans.com/benedictevans/2015/12/15/16-mobile-theses

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https://www.kleinerperkins.com/perspecti

ves/internet-trends-report-2018

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/service-

provider/visual-networking-index-vni/vni-infographic.html

http://www.extremetech.com/mobile/247026-

android-surpasses-windows-used-operating-

system-worldwide

Mobile Ecosystem

• An ecosystem is a bigger system that consists of various players or parts (smaller systems) which sustain and grow together.

• A mobile ecosystem is a collection of mobile devices, systems, services, plus development tools, companies, and users, that sustain and grow together.

• The mobile ecosystem generally includes the following layers; each layer consists players, standards, tools, etc.– adapted from the book Mobile Design and Development, Chapter 2

https://books.google.com/books?id=LyMeulBTkH0C

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Applications and Services

App Dev Platforms/Frameworks

OS

Devices (Hardware)

Platforms

Connectivity (Operators)

Some more resources and perspectives:

• https://www.slideshare.net/iivanoo/lecture01

-11910341

• https://www.slideshare.net/pragatiogal/mobil

e-ecosystem-9716726

• https://learndatamodeling.com/blog/what-is-

mobile-ecosystem/

• http://ben-

evans.com/benedictevans/2015/11/7/mobile

-ecosystems-and-the-death-of-pcs

Connectivity

• The connectivity layer provides the basic

connection infrastructure for mobile systems

– Mobile operators/carriers

– Connections and networks (standards)

– Devices for connections

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Operators/Carriers

• A mobile network operator or MNO, also known as a carrier, is a provider of wireless communications services that owns or controls all the elements necessary to deliver services to an end user

• Major responsibilities– Create and maintain the mobile infrastructure: towers, satellites, cables, access points, etc.

– Provide connection services and Internet/data services

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Top operators in the world by subscriptions

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mobile_network_operators

Note: by revenue, at&t and Verizon are the two biggest telecom

companies in the world.

Rank Company Country Total subscriptions (in millions)

1 China Mobile China 901.9 (May 2018)

2 Vodafone UK 535.8 (March 2018)

3 Airtel India 450.7 (March 2018)

4 China Unicom China 297.0 (April 2018)

5 América Móvil Mexico 279.1 (March 2018)

6 China Telecom China 276.1 (May 2018)

7 Telefónica Spain 271.9 (June 2018)

The Big 4 in US

• By subscriptions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_wireless_communications_service_providers– Verizon Wireless: 152.7 million (Q2 2018)

– AT&T Mobility: 147.3 million (Q2 2018)

– T-Mobile US: 75.6 million (Q2 2018)*

– Sprint Corporation: 53.7 million (Q2 2018)*

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* T-Mobile and Spring proposed

a merger in Jun 2018

https://www.digitaltrends.com/m

obile/t-mobile-sprint-merger/

Market share:

https://www.fcc.gov/20th-

mobile-wireless-competition-

report-quick-facts

Connections and Networks

• Wide area

– Cellular networks: GSM, HSPA, LTE

– Provide direction connection and maintained by mobile operators

– Broadband wireless access

• Local area

– Wireless LAN, WiFi

– Can be set up by private or public providers

• Near–me or personal area

– Direct connections: Bluetooth, NFC, IR

– Personal area network, near-me area network

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Cellular Network Generations1G 2G 3G 4G

Name1st Generation

Mobile Network

2nd Generation

Mobile Network

3rd Generation

Mobile Network

4th Generation

Mobile Network

Introduced in year 1980s 1993 2001 2009

Technology

AMPS (Advanced

Mobile Phone

System), NMT,

TACS

IS-95, GSM IMT2000, WCDMA LTE, WiMAX

Multiple

Address/Access

system

FDMA TDMA, CDMA CDMA CDMA

Switching type Circuit switching

Circuit switching for

Voice and Packet

switching for Data

Packet switching

except for Air

Interface

Packet switching

Speed (data rates)2.4 Kbps to 14.4

kbps14.4 Kbps 3.1 Mbps 100 Mbps

Special

Characteristic

First wireless

communication

Digital version of 1G

technology

Digital broadband,

speed increments

Very high speeds, All

IP

Features Voice onlyMultiple users on

single channel

Multimedia features,

Video Call

High Speed, real

time streaming

Supports Voice only Voice and Data Voice and Data Voice and Data

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https://www.qualcomm.com/documents/evolution-mobile-technologies-1g-2g-3g-4g-lte

Cellular Networks Market Share

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https://www.gsmaintelligence.com/research/2016/11/the-mobile-economy-north-

america-2016/587/

Platforms

• A platform is the defining feature of a mobile system

– A platform defines and supports all major features and activities of a mobile system

– Usually include devices, hardware components, OS, application development and management frameworks

• Major platforms

– Android (open source)

– Apple iOS (proprietary)

– Others: Windows (sort of …), etc.

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Type of Devices• A mobile device is a general term for any type of portable/movable devices with computing

power, connectivity and interactivity. Common features include:– Portable (or movable)

– Computing power: general or specific purpose, with storage.

– Various connection methods (WiFi, cellular)

– Various interaction methods (touchscreen, remote control, connected I/O)

• The core type of mobile devices is the smart phone– Estimated 2.5 billion smartphone users worldwide https://www.statista.com/statistics/330695/number-of-

smartphone-users-worldwide/

• Other device types– Laptop, netbook, ultrabook

– Tablet https://www.zdnet.com/article/tablet-computers-an-overview/

– Handheld e-reader, PDA, gaming console, music player (iPod)

– Wearable: watch, glasses, headsets, pens, etc.

– Movable attached/integrated: cars, drones, bikes, robot, etc.

– Human augmenter (implants)

– Home: TV, home automation, TV box, projector, etc.?

– IoT devices?

– Anything else?

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• Globally, 75% of mobile connections will be 'smart' connections

by 2021, up from 46% in 2016.

• In the United States, 99% of mobile connections (excluding

LPWA) will be 'smart' connections by 2021, up from 80% in 2016.

https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/assets/sol/sp/vni/forecast_highlights_m

obile/index.html

Smartphone

• Smartphones are phones with additional functionalities supported by high computing power (way beyond a “phone”); they typically run an operating system and more applications, have a larger screen size (resolution), and have touchscreens.

– Superphone https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superphone

• Should it be called a smartphone? https://blog.untitledkingdom.com/we-need-a-new-name-for-smartphone-c4258efd6e43

• General features– High computing power: CPU, GPU

– Large storage/memory

– Touch screen

– Integrated peripherals• Speaker, mic, camera, light, projector (Motorola Droid)

– Integrated connectivity• WiFi, Bluetooth, USB, etc.

– Integrated sensors• Motion, environment, position, location

– Long lasting battery

• Evolution of phones– https://www.tigermobiles.com/evolution

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Smartphones will be responsible for

48% of all fixed and mobile traffic by

2021

https://blogs.cisco.com/sp/top-5-

surprises-from-the-2017-mobile-vni-study

Device Manufacturers

• Apple– A proprietary platform with its own device, OS, and app frameworks

• Android– An open platform with a family of device manufacturers

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More data source:

http://www.appbrain.com/stats/top-manufacturers

Worldwide Smartphone Market, Top 5 Company, Q2 2018 (shipments in millions)

Vendor2Q18

Shipments

2Q18 Market

Share

2Q17

Shipments

2Q17 Market

Share

Year-Over-

Year Change

1. Samsung 71.5 20.9% 79.8 22.9% -10.4%

2. Huawei 54.2 15.8% 38.5 11.0% 40.9%

3. Apple 41.3 12.1% 41.0 11.8% 0.7%

4. Xiaomi 31.9 9.3% 21.4 6.2% 48.8%

5. OPPO 29.4 8.6% 28.0 8.0% 5.1%

Others 113.7 33.2% 139.5 40.1% -18.5%

Total 342.0 100.0% 348.2 100.0% -1.8%

Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, July 31, 2018

https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS44188018

(Smart) Hardware Components

• Core– Motherboard, SoC, CPU, GPU, memory, storage

• I/O– Display, touchscreen

– Connector: SIM, USB, SD card, etc.

– Physical key/button: switch, volume

• Communication– Network/communication transmitter/receiver

– Radio, WiFi, Bluetooth

• Integrated peripherals– Speaker, mic, camera, light

• Sensors, GPS

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Mobile OS

• Operating System (OS) is a base infrastructure software component of a computing system. It controls all basic operations of the device and support higher level applications.

• A mobile operating system, or mobile OS, is an operating system that is specifically designed to run on mobile devices.– A mobile OS runs on limited resources (computing power and storage)

emphasizing communication.

– http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/M/mobile_operating_system.html

• Note: – OS was once tightly coupled with the hardware devices; but they had

become a separate layer as devices became smart.

– While some computers such as typical laptops are 'mobile', the operating systems usually used on them are not considered mobile ones, as they were originally designed for desktop computers that historically did not have or need specific mobile features.

– Some mobile devices can run desktop OS. This distinction is becoming blurred in some newer operating systems that are hybrids made for both uses.

– https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_operating_system

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Mobile OS Market Share

• Multiple sources show Android and iOS are the dominant mobile OS currently– Android is consistently

above 80% world wide

– In US iOS is slightly more than Android http://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/mobile/united-states-of-america#monthly-201707-201807

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For more data sources:

• https://www.netmarketshare.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?id=platformsMobile

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_operating_systems#Mobile_devices

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_operating_system#Market_share

http://www.businessinsider.com/smartphone-market-

share-android-ios-windows-blackberry-2016-8

Applications and Services

• Applications, or mobile apps, are user facing functional software used on mobile devices

• Services are delivered through apps

• Growing types of applications that are integrated into the device

– Functional apps: financial, payment, socialization

– Device integrated apps: GPS

– Gaming

– Communication

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App Store

• An app store (or app marketplace) is a type of digital distribution platform for computer software, often in a mobile context.– Much like the online store, but the products are the

apps

• Major ones– Google Play

– Apple App Store

• Other notables– Amazon Appstore

– https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mobile_software_distribution_platforms

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App Development Platform

• Platform– A platform defines and supports all major app features and activities

– Usually includes hardware and operating systems

– Sometimes also includes application development and management frameworks

– Major mobile platforms: Android, Apple (iOS), Windows (mainly laptops)

• Development tools and frameworks. These include:– Programming language

– SDK (run time, compilers, etc.)

– Code editor or IDE

– App frameworks

– Libraries and services

• App distribution/update methods– App store: including official app store and third party app store

– Direct internet access or download

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App Development Choices

• Platform native app– These apps can only run on its target platform. The

development tools and frameworks for each platform is different and no compatible.

– Major development platforms: Android, Apple iOS, Windows

• Cross platform– Cross platform apps can run on multiple platforms

using one set of development tools and frameworks.

– Further categorized as • Cross platform native app

• Hybrid web app

• Web app (app like website) or mobile friendly website

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Mobile App Development Options

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https://developer.salesforce.com/page/Native,_HTML5,_or_Hybrid:

_Understanding_Your_Mobile_Application_Development_Options

A program designed to run directly on a specific mobile operating system.

A web based application that runs in any web browser especially that designed for mobile devices.

Applications developed using Web development technologies and wrapped in a mobile app container

* New to the diagram: cross-platform native app (Xamarin)

* New to the diagram: app like web site

https://developer.salesforce.com/page/Native,_HTML5,_or_Hybrid:_Understanding_Your_Mobile_Application_Development_Optionshttp://www.telerik.com/blogs/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-native-hybrid-and-web-apps-but-were-afraid-to-askhttp://www.sitepoint.com/native-hybrid-or-web-apps/http://www.ymedialabs.com/hybrid-vs-native-mobile-apps-the-answer-is-clear/

Comparison of the Three Development Options

Native Apps Mobile Web Hybrid

Device

features

Can fully utilize platform/OS

features if allowed, such as

camera, location, sensors,

and interactions with file

systems and other apps.

Access to devices features

are limited to the browser

environment.

Can utilize platform/OS

features if provided by the

SDK, which are usually

provided as JavaScript

APIs.

UX/UI Best; smooth interaction as

UI is very responsive.

Not as good as native app;

may have delays.

Looks like an app, but may

have performance issues.

Development

Platform

Applications are platform

dependent. They have to be

written and/or compiled to a

specific OS*. Example:

- Andriod (Java) ( Android )

- iOS (Objective C, Swift)

- Windows (.Net, C#)

- * Xamarin (all)

Web applications are cross

platform and can use standard

languages such as

HTML/CSS/JavaScript.

Programs runs in browsers,

although they may have

slightly differences in different

browsers.

Hybrid applications are

developed using standard

web technologies, but

complied to each specific

platform.

Distribution /

Installation

App Store, or direct

downloaded; need

installation

Web; no installation App Store, or direct

downloaded; need

installation

Cross-Platform Native App

• This solution uses a common development environment for all platforms, but wraps (compiles) them to a target platform.

– Wrapping all native OS libraries

– Similar to hybrid, but the apps are native apps, not relying on browser engines.

• Example development framework– Xamarin: Using C# and .Net for development

https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/vs/features/mobile-app-development/

– React Native https://facebook.github.io/react-native/

– https://www.altexsoft.com/blog/engineering/xamarin-vs-react-native-vs-ionic-cross-platform-mobile-frameworks-comparison/

• Is Xamarin hybrid?– The short answer is no.

– https://www.quora.com/Is-Xamarin-hybrid-development

– http://www.cygnet-infotech.com/blog/phonegap-or-titanium-or-xamarin-which-cross-platform-should-you-choose

• Others– http://www.appcelerator.com

– http://monocross.net

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Application Framework

• The main aim of frameworks is to increase productivity by reducing efforts which eventually saves lot of time for developers to resolve any other important issues in the app or game. These frameworks provides inbuilt tools for developers to work instantly on difficult and lengthy part of coding.

• Vendor frameworks– Android SDK

– Cocoa Touch

• Major third party frameworks– Ionic

– jQuery mobile: http://jquerymobile.com

– Sencha Touch

– Titanium Appcelerator

– Framework7

– More: http://mobile-frameworks-comparison-chart.com/

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Services and Service Providers

• Mobile backend as a service (MBaaS), also known as "backend as a service" (BaaS) is a model for providing web app and mobile app developers with a way to link their applications to backend cloud storage and APIs exposed by back end applications while also providing features such as user management, push notifications, and integration with social networking services.

• Top providers– Kinvey

– Sencha

– Parse

– Azure https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/app-service-mobile/

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Mobile User Experience

• User experience– a person's perceptions and responses that result from the use or anticipated use of a product, system or

service

– encompasses all aspects of the end-user's interaction with the company, its services, and its products.

• Mobile user experience– User experience toward mobile devices

– Use of mobile devices and wearables, and applications or services running on such devices.

• Key differences– Portable

– Screen• Screen size is generally smaller http://www.statista.com/chart/2269/smartphone-shipments-by-screen-size/

• Screen resolution is lower and density is higher http://developer.android.com/about/dashboards/index.html

• Fragmented market: properties vary a lot among devices

• Orientation: vertical screens accounts for 29% of usage

– Interaction method: touch is different form pointing device• https://www.nngroup.com/articles/mouse-vs-fingers-input-device/

– Connection and speed• Mobile device connection is less stable, inconsistent, and slower

• Variable connectivity

– Device capability• Mobile devices have much more functionality integrated: cam, mic, sensors, GPS, etc.

• Computing limited

– https://www.nngroup.com/articles/mobile-ux/

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Good Resources

• Community resources– http://www.ctia.org

– https://mobileecosystemforum.com

– https://research.google.com/pubs/MobileSystems.html

– https://www.hindawi.com/journals/misy/

• Influencers– http://www.slideshare.net/

fling

– http://ben-evans.com

• News– http://www.ubergizmo.co

m/topic/cellphones/

– http://www.ubergizmo.com/topic/tablets/

– http://mobileecosystemforum.com/mef-minute/

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Data, Stats, and Reports

• Organizational reports– Cisco Visual Networking Index http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/service-

provider/visual-networking-index-vni/index.html

– KPCB Internet Trends http://www.kpcb.com/internet-trends

– https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research

– https://www.ctia.org/the-wireless-industry/infographics-library

• General stats– http://www.netmarketshare.com

– http://gs.statcounter.com

– http://marketshare.hitslink.com

– Browser: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_web_browsers

• Other Reports– http://mobiforge.com

– http://www.visionmobile.com/reports/

– http://www.pewinternet.org

– http://www.appcelerator.com/enterprise/resource-center/research/

– https://www.slideshare.net/comScoremarcom/presentations

– Android devices: http://developer.android.com/about/dashboards/index.html

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KSU Courses

• The BSIT "Mobile and Web" elective track

– This program is rated #3 in The 10 Best Online

Mobile App Development Degrees

https://www.bestvalueschools.com/cheap/online/

mobile-computing-degrees-bachelors/

• CSE 3203 Mobile System Overview

• IT 4213 Mobile Web Development

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