We got a tremendous response to our last post on USSD. Actually, there is not much information about 'How to develop an USSD app' on the Internet.Let us first make it clear to you that USSD applications are'nt like desktop apps which you can develop in any programming platform. Its complex and require involvement of both developer and Telecom service provider. Involvement of the Service provider part is tedious because practically they wont allow you to play with theirequipment. So either...
1.You must have access to their Gateway or tie up with them , to deploy a real working USSD application.
2.Alternatively,you can use USSD Gateway Simulator for ex. LeibICT USSD GW Simulator.
But if you choose the second option you wouldn't get a real working app. I mean if you dial *123# from your mobile you wouldn't get any USSD message. LeibICT provides you with a phone simulator and sample programs. The results are displayed on their Mobile Simulator. The simulator won't let you connect your mobile phone. The Simulator support multiple platform like VC++,Java,C/C++. Just go through their documentation.
So If you want to develop and test applications in home environment on-the-go, opt for Simulator. It will also be good for students for demonstration purposes.
If you go for first option then you can connect to USSD GW by SS7/SIGTRAN or SMPP protocols.There are several gateways available in market like Mctel, Bharti Telesoft, Dialogic.They provide you with software and support.
Another way is to create SMPP application and use it to connect to the USSD server.The Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) Server feature allows the user to interact directly with network-based functions from GSM-based mobile phones.
The Short Message Peer to Peer (SMPP) protocol is an open, industry standard protocol designed to provide a flexible data communications interface for transfer of short message data between a Message Center, such as a Short Message Service Centre (SMSC), GSM Unstructured Supplementary Services Data (USSD) Server or other type of Message Center and a SMS application system, such as a WAP Proxy Server, EMail Gateway or other Messaging Gateway. For more info on SMPP visit SMSforum.net
To support USSD in SMPP, an optional parameter extension is used. This parameter must be defined by adding the following section to SMSGW.INI
[SMPPOptions]
ussd_service_op=0501,Integer,1
Link To USSD GW Simulator: http://www.mediafire.com/?q8n5p8r3a2r5w66
Nice Post! Thanks for explaining about USSD Gateway Stimulator.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I got you clear: the NO won't allow one to 'play' with their equipment.
ReplyDeleteon which server should i run the above downloaded code plz ,run env,and the editor preferable to use thanks in advance
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