Abstract
Chapter 1
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Mobile messaging has been around for over the years and has seen rapid transformation in making it easier to use and more accessible to individuals around the world. It first started in 1933 with 'Telex Services', where messages where being sent over RCA transatlantic circuits and it mainly sent alphanumeric messages via radio telegraphy. It later evolved in 1992 when''Neil Papworth, a 22-year-old test engineer for''Sema Group''in the UK(now''Airwide Solutions),''used a personal computer to send the text message "Merry Christmas" via the''Vodafone''network to the phone of Richard Jarvis''who was at a party in''Newbury, Berkshire''which had been organized to celebrate the event.
Modern Mobile Messaging is now seen a sending a message from one mobile phone to another either using SMS or any other 3rd party mobile application also know as 'Social Media'. With the use of the internet 3rd party application have made it easier to communicate with a vast number of people almost instantly and has also reduced the cost of sending SMS over mobile network which has seen a decrease in charges over time. These 3rd party mobile applications such as Whatsapp, WeChat, BlackBerry Messenger(BBM), Viber…etc, has been greatly welcomed and has achieved the goal of making communication with anyone that is in any location on this planet easy and cheap. These application don't only allow text-messaging, they also include voice calls, video calls and also sharing of media files.
Information gathered from an online source 'Statista' show that as of January 2016, 900 million people use these 'Social Media Applications'. It also show Whatspp has the most used application beating Facebook Messenger, WeChat and Viber. These proves that people around the world prefer to communication with ease with services that make it almost free to do so still regarding internet charges.
With only the need for users to have a decent internet connection from anywhere in the world, these application become the pinnacle of communication for years and it looks like its going to stay that way for a long time.
1.2 RATIONALE
The rationale for completing this research task lies in the very much archived discoveries in writing that communication brings people together and makes it easier for information to get across, especially to people that leave far from each other.
1.3 AIMS
The aim of my project is to create a mobile messaging application for android devices, that will enable people from anywhere in the world communicate and also share photos, alongside any other media file.
1.4 OBJECTIVES
'To research on how data can be sent between two mobile devices, existing an android mobile messaging applications and creating android mobile applications.
'To plan out functional and non-functional requirement of the project.
'To plan out the entire project by carrying out several studies which are feasibility study, skill audit, project charter, and requirement analysis.
'To come up with a suitable system development lifecycle in order to complete the mobile messaging application.
'To study the programming language that will be used in developing the mobile messaging application.
'To design and implement the UI for the mobile messaging application.
'To program(write codes for) the mobile messaging application to make the UI fully functional.
'To create validation handling techniques for the project application.
'To perform full system testing on the mobile messaging application
1.5 PROBLEM STATEMENT
– Privacy Problems:
Data such as media files are not fully secure when being transmitted because, due to failure of encrypting these file before/when they are sent. Also, messages are being stored on publicly accessible online servers, making it possible for anyone to access.
Also, most of these application require access to the users phonebook, pictures and videos, and most of the time, granting access puts the user at risk of data being extracted from their mobile devices.
– Communication Cost:
To have access to the internet these days requires a lot of money, and the messaging application presently requires internet connection to be able to send messages and media files from one mobile device to another.
1.6 RESEARCH QUESTION
'How would data/history be saved?
'How would data be sent?
'How long will it take before the user receiver's messages or his/her message would be delivered?
'Would the application be easy to use?
'Would user's data be stored securely?
'Is the user's privacy guaranteed?
1.7 SUMMARY
In summary, the chapter (Chapter One) is meant to give a background information on the project. In the next chapsster we'll look at the Literature review and have a more in-depth look at the history and evolution of mobile messaging application.
Chapter 2
Literature review
2.1 BACKGROUND STUDY
Mobile messaging applications helped bring Instant Messaging (IM) into full effect. Instant Messaging is real time text transmission over the internet, it's basically chatting online. In earlier days (1960's) this system was mainly used as notification systems for printing and was later on used as a way of communication between users that were logged on into the machine. Instant messaging became popular in 1980's with programs like Unix 'talk' and Celerity BBS which used command line interfaces.
Modern IM using internet wide Graphic User Interface(GUI) systems didn't start till mid-1990's with PowWow, ICQ and AOL. Modern day messaging have evolved from being web based application to mobile applications with improved compatibility for mobile devices, easy use and improved user interface. They are better know as Social Network's which include Facebook, WhatApp, Viber, SnapChat etc. Modern day mobile messaging applications integrate the use of video calls, voice calls, live streaming over the internet. Most of them include improved security systems, that protect against external access to users information and message data.
2.2 CONCEPT OF MY SYSTEM
The proposed system is a mobile messaging application that would help user communicate to each other securely and be able to make video and phone calls. The application is also a an android application and is meant to be able to work on any mobile device.
Features of the system include:
'Real time messaging.
'Secure chat between users.
'Real time voice calls.
2.3 REVIEW OF EXISTING SYSTEM
Case Study 1: Messenger by Facebook
Messenger is a 3rd party messenger application for Facebook released in August 2011. The application supports both text and voice communication. Since Facebook removed messaging from it's main application, it developed Messenger to enable users still communicate but using a separate application. At it's earlier release it was optional and you could still send messages using the native Facebook application but in April 2014, it became mandatory to download the application if you want to send messages to your Facebook contacts (except you feel comfortable using your browser). Messenger is
Figure 2.1
Features:
'Voice Call
'Free messaging and calls (some data charges fees may apply)
'Group Chatting
'Voice Messages
'Multimedia sharing
Users of messenger are not really happy with the application as it requires too many permissions form the user which threatens users security as the permissions are shown in the diagrams below:
Case Study 2: WeChat
WeChat is a free messaging and calling application (according to their website). It is owned by Tencent a Chinese company which deals solely with multimedia development. The application is widely popular among Asia smart-phone users and
2.3 CONCLUSION
The system listed above though
Chapter 3
3.1 REVIEW OF TECHNOLOGIES
This chapter is going to contain analysis on the development of the mobile messaging applications, as well as
3.2 TECHNOLOGIES USED
C#
C# is a programming language similar to Java and is widely used in modern day programming. C# (affirmed as observe sharp) is a multi-worldview programming language including solid writing, basic, decisive, useful, non specific, protest situated (class-based), and part arranged programming disciplines. It was created by Microsoft inside its .NET activity and later endorsed as a standard by (ECMA-334) and (ISO/IEC 23270:2006). C# is one of the programming languages intended for the Common Language Infrastructure.
Figure 3.1
C# is developed using Visual Studio which is an open source code editor for Windows, Linux and OS x devices, also developed by Microsoft. It incorporates support for debugging , implanted Git control, syntax structure highlighting, code completion, snippets, and code re-factoring.
C# comprises of the executable code and runtime environment that permits utilization of different abnormal state languages on various PC stages and structures. The accompanying reasons make C# a generally utilized proficient language: '
'It is simple, modern, object-oriented and versatile in its use.
'It is component oriented.
'It produces efficient programs.
'It is easy to learn.
'It is a well structured programming language.
This will be used to create the main framework and back-end of the project.
Microsoft Visual Studio
This is an open source, integrated development environment. Visual Studio has been around for years and has seen some major improvement over the years. It has been improved to ensure excellent developer productivity, team productivity and allowing rapid development of applications. Visual Studio can be used to develop or create anything ranging form web application using .NET framework to mobile application both individual and cross platform. It also supports a lot of programming languages as well as plugins.
Figure 3.2
In visual studio things are made easy with code refactoring and code completion component (IntelliSense as called by Microsoft) to help developers, as well as a debugger which can either be source-level or machine-level. It comes with a lot of tools as well for web designing, class design, database design etc.
This is the environment the application would be built in.
Android SDK
Android software development kit is an application that is used to develop application for android devices and it includes a comprehensive set of development tools. It includes a debugger, libraries, handset emulators, documentation, tutorials and sample codes. It supports any programming language that is compatible with android devices. In the case of this project it won't be used directly as it can be installed to work on any software that can be used to develop applications such as Visual Studio and Eclipse.
Figure 3.3
This would be used in the android development of the application , to ensure that it work son android phones.
MSSQL Server
MSSQL is short for Microsoft SQL is another one of Microsoft application. This is a relational database management system. It's main function is storing and retrieving data as requested by software applications, which are either on the same computer or over a network (including the internet).
Conclusion
CHAPTER 4
Methodology
4.1 INTRODUCTION
This chapter will give analysis on the methodology used in research and developing this application and also how effective it will be during development. Methodologies are guiding processes for project management, they are a means to help plan out a project an help prevent risks before the project is undertaken. It also helps with timing and delivering a project on time.
4.2 ANALYSIS OF METHODOLOGY
The methodology being use for this project is Spiral. Spiral methodology is very common in developing software. This methodology combines waterfall and prototyping methodologies. This methodology has mostly four phases and they include:
'Identification:
This is were requirements are gotten in the baseline spiral and understanding the system by continuous communication with client and system analyst as the spiral continues which in the end leads to the full requirement being met.
'Design:
This phase starts with conceptual design in the baseline spiral and involves, module design, product design and final design as the spiral continues.
'Construct Or Build:
In this phase the system or application is put into production as the development process is put into play. In the baseline spiral is design is first developed as POC (Proof Of Concept) to get customer feedback which later builds into the final product as the spiral continues.
'Evaluation 0r Risk Analysis:
This phase is initiated after the first build has been commented on and feedback is gotten from the customer, which is also at the baseline of the spiral. It also en-tales identifying, estimating, and monitoring technical feasibility and management risks, such as schedule slippage and cost overrun.
Chapter 5
DESIGN