Information Services and Access Mechanism of Mobile Web for the Underprivileged

1
Information Services and Access Mechanism of
Mobile Web for the Under-privileged

• Asoke K Talukder

W3C Workshop on the Mobile Web in Developing
Countries, December 5/6, 2006 Bangalore, India
2
The Author

• Asoke K Talukder
• Vice President Software Engineering, Tyfone CDI
  Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore
• DaimlerChrysler Chair and Associate
  Professor, IIIT Bangalore

• Interests
• Information System for the Under-privileged
• Next Generation Networks
• Artificial Hygiene

3
The Scenario
4
World Internet Usage Numbers
Source http//www.internetworldstat.com as on
24st November 2006
5
Some Facts

• 18 of World population people in North
  America, Western Europe, Australia Countries in
  developed economies contribute to 60 of Internet
  users
• About 10 of the population in Asia use Internet
• In China, mobile phone users are 430 million
  against 123 million of Internet users
• In India, there are 125 million mobile phones
  against 60 million Internet users
• Source http//www.internetstatistics.com and
  http//www.gsmworld.com (October 2006)

6
Mobile Phone Population

• 2.5 billion mobile phones
• 2 billion GSM phones
• 1 million subscribers are added everyday
• It took 12.5 years for GSM to reach first billion
• Next 1 billion was achieved in 2.5 years out of
  this 1 billion, 82 is in China, India, Africa,
  and South America
• Mobile phone population is expected to be 4
  billions by end of 2010 every 2 persons in 3
  people will have a mobile phone

Source http//www.gsmworld.com and
http//psdblog.worldbank.org/psdblog/2006/06/more_
cell_phone.html
7
Mobile Web Access

• Asymmetric traffic small amount of data sent
  with large amount of data received
• Requires high bandwidth GPRS or UMTS/3G networks
• Requires high-end phones
• One hand or Two hand Operation Phones are not
  suitable (user friendly) for Mobile Web access
• Best user experience is possible with UMTS and
  Mobile Phones with Pen

8
Mobile Web (Static Content)

• Needs an Browser at the client device
• Budget phones do not support Internet browser
• TCP/IP perform badly over wireless cellular
  networks
• Handover (at vehicular state) with TCP/IP is
  still a challenge
• Roaming with TCP/IP is not universal

9
Charging in Mobile IP Environment

• Telecommunication operators always charged their
  customers (using voice service) based on volume
  (time and distance) service provided by the
  network
• In data service charging will be on volume
  (time, mega bytes), QoS, Contents, and Events
  service provided by third party
• IP billing (postpaid and prepaid) is a major
  challenge for mobile operators. Many of them do
  not have it yet (other than volume)

10
Prepaid Phones

• 30 of the subscribers in US are prepaid
• 60 of subscribers in West Europe Australia are
  prepaid
• 70 of subscribers in East Europe, Russia, New
  Zealand are prepaid
• In Asia, Africa, South America 75-95 of
  subscribers are prepaid

11
Prepaid Connections

• Prepaid Subscribers
• Under-privileged
• Students
• Teenagers
• Individual subscribers (non corporate)
• Prepaid Services
• Voice
• SMS
• MMS

12
The Problem
13
Prepaid Subscribers and Data

• Majority of under-privileged subscribers along
  with students, teenagers, and non-corporate
  mobile subscribers use prepaid connections
• Due to challenges in Realtime billing
  infrastructure, TCP/IP based data service is not
  available to prepaid customers (in general)
• Conclusion Majority of mobile subscribers in
  Developing countries today use budget phones or
  prepaid connections, these users do not have
  access to generic TCP/IP data service

14
Data Service for Under-privileged

• Mobile Web access through SMS as data bearer
  (SMS-data)
• It will be short input to application and short
  response
• Lifestyle based transactions and Information
  services do not need large input or output they
  are symmetric and small in size
• SMS gateway can convert the Web content into
  small messages even in local languages (through
  transcoding)

15
Short Message Service (SMS)

• Perceived as an entertainment tool for teenagers
• SMS was originally designed for messaging between
  mobile phones
• Driven by ETSI Standard 03.40
• Is increasingly being used as data
• On September 11, 2001 following the twin tower
  attack at New York City, telephone lines became
  inaccessible SMS was used for communication
  between emergency service personnel Reference
  The Presidents National Security
  Telecommunications Advisory Committee Wireless
  Task Force Report, Wireless Priority Service,
  August 2002

16
SMS Advantages

• True Ubiquitous media
• Universal availability of SMS
• Pay as you use (no license fee or entry barrier)
• Stateless Peer-to-peer
• Asynchronous (store and forward)
• Self-Configurable
• Always ON (always connected) best for alerts
• Universal Roaming
• Works at vehicular conditions (across Network
  boundaries)
• Resistant to many conditions that break TCP/IP
  data connection (low signal strength, channel
  unavailability, weak intermittent signal)

17
Need of SMS-data for Under-privileged
18
The Proposal
19
Standardize SMS-data so that it Interoperates, to
facilitate SMS as Data Bearer for Mobile Web over
existing Infrastructure for Budget phones,
Prepaid, and Under-privileged users
20
SMS Usage Healthcare

• Compliance monitoring and enforcement
• Patient self-monitoring (chronic disease
  management)
• Appointment reminders
• Health promotion, e.g., diabetic healthcare,
  smoking cessation messaging
• Targeted service notification, e.g., flu
  vaccination season
• Appointment confirmation/ cancellation/
  modification

21
SMS Usage Mobile Finance

• HDFC Bank Mobile Banking with SMS, Reference
  http//www.hdfcbank.com/RI/RI-EAGE-MobileBanking-w
  ithSMS.htm.

• Mobey Forum carried through an extensive
  evaluation on the future development of the
  mobile financial services business ecosystem.
  Reference http//www.mobeyforum.org/

• San Francisco 15-Nov-2006 -- Visa USA today
  advanced its mobile strategy through the launch
  of a new pilot at its California headquarters.
  Following the successful completion of the
  industry's first large-scale U.S. mobile payment
  trial at Philips Arena in Atlanta earlier this
  year, Visa is now testing the delivery of mobile
  payment coupons and rewards via text message,
  graphic and bar code images direct to consumers'
  mobile devices. Reference http//www.mobiletechn
  ews.com/info/2006/11/15/173005.html

22
SMS-data Applications

• Telemedicine
• Reality TV shows
• Reality Radio shows
• Healthcare
• Agriculture Exchange
• Value Added Service (VAS)
• Emergency Weather alerts

23
Other SMS based Applications

• Sensor Networks
• Telematics
• Remote control for vehicle
• Fleet Management
• Industrial Automation
• Notifications and Reminders
• Tickets, Boarding Pass etc

24
2D Barcoded Mobile Ticket over SMS
Reference http//www.convergelabs.com
25
SMS as Multifactor Security Enabler

• SMS uses SS7 signaling channel that is
  Physically Secured
• SS7 SMS media is not accessible to general
  public
• SMS can be used for Mutual Authentication
• SMS can be used to distribute Security keys
• SMS and Web can be used for Multifactor,
  Multi-communication security protocol
• SMS can be used for Presence, Spatial, and
  Contextual security

26
All these Services are Network Proprietary and DO
NOT Interoperate

• Network Operators are offering Mobile Web
  Services over SMS (only to its subscribers)
• An Independent Service Provider or an Enterprise
  cannot offer Mobile Web Services over SMS
  Unless this happens, Mobile Web usage will be
  limited

27
SMS Point-to-Point Architecture
Reference GSM Standard 03.40
28
SMS Point-to-Point

• Both endpoints are mobile phones
• Interoperable
• Any mobile phone from any network roaming in any
  network can send SMS to any phone from any other
  network roaming in some other network

29
The Challenge
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SMS-data Routing Challenges

• When a subscriber is roaming, outgoing voice
  calls are routed by the visiting MSC The call
  can be routed from any mobile phone to any other
  mobile phone or fixedline phone
• When a subscriber is roaming, outgoing SMS is
  routed by the home SMSC The SMS can be routed
  from any mobile phone to any mobile phone
• As an SMS-data service is connected to the home
  network, SMS-data can never be routed to non-home
  services This is against the fundamental
  philosophy of telecommunication or data
  communication

31
SMS-data

• Does not Interoperate
• One endpoint is service (running in computers or
  Web), other endpoint is mobile phone
• Shortcode as SMS Data Service Identifier (SDSI),
  the port address where SMS gateway is connected
• A mobile subscriber can access only these
  services offered by the home operator
• A subscriber from network A cannot access
  services offered by B or any service in Web
• A subscriber roaming in a foreign network still
  accesses the service at home network

32
SMS-data Architecture
Reference GSM Standard 03.40
33
SMS-data Interoperability

• SM MO (Short Message Mobile Originated) is not
  interoperable an SMS-data from any mobile phone
  from any network roaming in some other network
  can be routed to only these applications
  connected to the home SMSC and offered by the
  home network
• SM MT (Short Message Mobile Terminated) is
  interoperable an SMS-data from any application
  can be routed to any mobile phone from any
  network roaming in any other network

34
Cashiers Cheque using SMS Security
Reference http//www.standardchartered.com.sg/cb/
ibnk/faq/svc_ibnk_echq.html
Interoperable SMS MT Message is used to send the
security code to payee who can have mobile phone
from any network operator
35
Short Code as SDSI

• Short Codes are used as SDSI (SMS Data Service
  Identifier)
• Shortcodes do not follow E.164 standard for
  numbering
• Shortcodes are Proprietary and does not have any
  meaning outside of home network
• In the US, shortcodes are reserved through
  , a centralized body
  http//www.usshortcodes.com to have unique
  shortcode across USA though, there is no
  guarantee that this short code will be available
  in all networks. It is also possible to find out
  who owns a mobile short code in the United States
  http//www.usshortcodeswhois.com
• This is not possible in other countries

36
Indian Railways services through SMS
Source http//www.indianrail.gov.in/railcode.html
37
Park and pay with SMS in downtown Wellington (New
Zealand)
Service not available to non-Vodafone customers
or Roaming subscribers

• The motorist sends an SMS with the machines
  unique code to 7275 (PARK).
• The machine vends a pay and display ticket and
  the motorist displays the ticket in the car as
  normal.
• The motorist receives an SMS confirming receipt
  of funds from their Vodafone account or Prepay
  credit
• Source http//www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?con
  tentid2187

38
Pay Your Rail Parking by SMS in the UK
Service not available to visitors
Source http//www.smstextnews.com/2006/08/pay_you
r_rail_p.html
39
Telephone Number is the Identity
In Developing Countries Mobile number is the
Storefronts
Source Africa The Impact of Mobile Phones, The
Vodafone Policy Paper Series, Number 2, March 2005
40
Mobile Number Portability (MNP)

• Helps the economy
• Increases competition
• Helps the consumer
• In developing countries mobile number plays the
  role of a Storefront
• In MNP, Subscriber carries the old number to new
  operator
• SMS-data accessed through shortcode will cease to
  operate in MNP (same service may not be
  available, or use a different shortcode)

41
The Solution
42
SMS-data Routing for Mobile Web

• For Mobile Web access, we need Interoperable
  SMS-data that can be routed from any home SMSC to
  any Web service independent of the network with
  or without Mobile Number Portability
• Interoperable Portable SMS-data needs to be
  compatible with existing protocols and
  infrastructure

43
Existing SMS-data Technologies

• SMS Gateway (SMPP Short Message Peer-to-peer
  Protocol) This uses shortcodes (SDSI addresses)
  as port address of SMSC connection. This
  technology does not interoperate but scales (100s
  of messages/second)
• GSM Modem This uses SMS Point-to-Point with one
  endpoint Mobile phone (with MSISDN as SDSI)
  working as a data modem and connected to an
  application. This technology is interoperable but
  does not scale (Alternate Half Duplex with Over
  The Air data-rate is lt 300 bits/sec) with 7
  messages/minute (roundtrip)

44
Ubiquitous SMS Routing Service

• Ubiquitous SMS Routing Service (USRS) routes an
  SMS-data from any mobile phone of any network
  roaming in any network to any application in the
  Web
• It routes an SMS from any home SMSC to any Web
  application Reference Ubiquitous SMS Routing
  and Independent Service Creation, submitted for
  publication in IEEE Transaction on Vehicular
  Technology

45
USRS Tunneling

• Ubiquitous SMS Routing Service Tunneling routes
  an SMS-data from any mobile phone of any network
  roaming in any network to an application that is
  running in the private network of another mobile
  operator
• It tunnels the SMS-data from any home SMSC to any
  foreign SMSC which is then routed to the
  application connected to the foreign network

46
Universal SMS Routing Service

• Universal SMS Routing Service (USRS) routes an
  SMS-data from any mobile phone of any network
  ported to any other network roaming in any
  network to an application independent of Donor or
  Recipient network Reference Mobile Number
  Portability Making SMS Data Services Portable,
  Journal of Indian Institute of Science, pp 81-96,
  Mar-Apr, 2006

47
USRS

• USRS Technology offers SMS-data routing algorithm
  that is Interoperable and Scalable
• USRS offers SMS-data routing algorithm
• That is network independent
• That is MNP neutral
• That is independent of the end-user device
• Protects the investment (uses existing
  infrastructure)
• USRS Routing Algorithm has been tested in an
  Indian GSM network in Meerut near Delhi with
  mobile phones across India

48
USRS Compatibility

• USRS Technology is backward forward compatible
• USRS coexists with all other network elements
• USRS uses MAP (GSM 09.02) protocols
• Only the USRS node need to be added in SS7
  network
• Client interface on phone does not change
• Client continues to work with Shortcode through
  existing interfaces
• Client will work with Global-title through USRS
  interface
• Server application continues without any change

49
USRS Routing Architecture
Just add the USRS server in SS7 network within
the existing GSM/GPRS network. It uses the
existing MAP (GSM 09.02) standards to communicate
with other network elements
50
The Proposal
51
Requirement for SMS-data

• SMS-data should be interoperable
• SMS-data from any network should be possible to
  route to any application/service in the Web or
  private Intranet of any operator
• SMS-data routing should be Number Portability
  neutral
• For under-privileged, capability of Toll-Free SMS
  with standard numbering scheme

52
Recommendation for SMS-data

• USRS routing algorithm be made international
  standard for SMS-data routing because it is,
• Network independent
• MNP Neutral
• Independent of end-user device
• Use existing infrastructure and protocols
• Using USRS technology it is possible to implement
  toll-free and LoCall SMS
• Toll-free and LoCall numbering scheme for
  SMS-data like 888.xxxxxxxxx, where xxxxxxxxx is
  the service identity

53
Questions?
Thank you