This paper introduces a novel approach on how to integrate communication services into Web applications running in the browser. The solution is based on two major design decisions: To resolve the need for a business-to-business (B2B) relationship between Web provider and communication service provider, and to distribute the Model, View and Controller components of an application across different processes. Our approach helps to answer the question on how to efficiently integrate network operator’s assets into applications from over the top (OTT) players. The separation between application control by the Web page and the actual command execution by the native capabilities of the user device opens new opportunities for global reachability of telco services, easy deployment and re-deployment of applications with zero configuration need for users and developers as well as privacy protection by keeping sensitive data within the user domain, e.g. the user’s communication device.

This article introduces a novel approach on how to integrate communication services into Web applications running in the browser. The solution is based on two major design decisions: To resolve the need for a business-to-business relationship between Web provider and communication service provider, and to distribute the Model, View and Controller components of an application across different processes. Our approach helps to answer the question on how to efficiently integrate network operator’s assets into applications from over the top players. The separation between application control by the Web page and the actual command execution by the native capabilities of the user device opens new opportunities for global reachability of Telco services, easy deployment and redeployment of applications with zero configuration need for users and developers as well as privacy protection by keeping sensitive data within the user domain, e.g. the user’s communication device.

This paper introduces a novel approach on how to integrate real-time multimedia communication into web applications. By using a Javascript API any web developer has the tools to use telecommunication functionalities in web apps. We aimed for an easy and efficient solution for developers and have performed an expert evaluation comparing our approach with the recent WebRTC/RTCWeb initiative driven by the W3C and the IETF. Our results indicate that our approach is well received among web developers and has advantages over similar solutions in terms of easiness, cross-domain availability, and compatibility with telco services.

PurposeMobile computing enables end‐users to create small services on their mobiles and share valuable and context‐aware information with others. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a platform for end‐user generated mobile services – so‐called microservices.Design/methodology/approachAs a key component the authors present a microservice description language for user‐driven mobile service creation and platform‐independent service execution and rendering. The paper also gives insight into the authors' visual authoring tool. The chosen design approach is evaluated in two phases: an intermediate evaluation with a small hands‐on trial and an online survey; and a final laboratory test with 24 test users in total.FindingsThe paper provides empirical insights about the methods and motivations of end‐users creating small mobile services. The main purposes of service creation would be mostly to exchange information, stay in contact, and just for fun (on the basis of non‐commercial use). The evaluations also indicate the visual drag and drop approach of putting service blocks together as being the most favored in terms of user satisfaction.Originality/valueThe concepts and findings introduced in this paper will help in designing mobile service authoring environments, which is appealing to software communities/vendors and mobile network operators. The presented platform is, to the authors' knowledge, the first designed and implemented infrastructure enabling end‐user mobile service creation.

Mobile computing enables end-users not only to access and consume information on-the-go but also to act as service and content providers. With the right tools, end-users can create small services on their mobiles and share valuable and context-aware information with others. This work introduces a platform for end-user generated mobile services --- so-called microservices. As a key component we present a microservice description language for user-driven mobile service creation, powerful service discovery, and platform-independent service execution and rendering. The paper also gives insight into the visual authoring tool and the user feedback gathered in evaluations.

Imagine what kind of applications become possible when our mobile devices not only present data but provide valuable information to other users. Users become able to instantaneously create services and to publish content and knowledge on their own mobile device, which can be discovered and accessed remotely by other mobile users in a simple way. To achieve the vision of customizable and context aware user-generated mobile services, we present a mobile authoring tool for end-users to create, customize and deploy mobile services while on-the-go. This tool is designed to allow users with different levels of technical expertise to create mobile services. The paper also gives insight on the performed usability evaluations, namely user interviews and an online survey.

This paper presents a research approach towards a semantic infrastructure for user generated mobile services. Building on the concept of semantic microservices , the aim of this work is to sufficiently lower the barrier for end-users in order to enable easy ad-hoc creation, customisation, and discovery of mobile services.

We present an infrastructure for the creation and sharing of end-user generated microservices. Main elements of the conceived semantic microservice model, the microservice lifecycle and a high-level architectural view of the m:Ciudad infrastructure are discussed.

In this paper we examine the access methods and the quality of experience of current unicast video streaming services in 3G mobile networks. A packet-switched mobile video client, a packet-switched video portal and two variants of circuit-switched streaming (standard vs. short code access) are evaluated in a user study. We found that the particular access method is an influential factor in the overall acceptance of a mobile video service. This makes circuit-switched streaming video with short code access a viable alternative to the currently predominant packet-switched video services.

We present an emerging approach of Mobile Social Spaces (MOSS) that intends to improve the ways in which people communicate in the modern world. Pervasive content and service creation and provisioning, in particular for dynamically changing social groups, is a complex task and subject to varying locations of individuals, of the complete group and its context. MOSS tries to remove some of the obstacles in this area and defines a range of functionalities that will support dynamic ubiquitous creation and instantiation of community content and services.

This paper presents the concept of mobile user-provided services small services that users can create and provide on the go from their mobile terminals. It addresses the technological challenges to apply this concept and describes an architectural approach to realize it. Ultimate personalization and access to the most relevant information are the main drivers for user-provided services, which have been materialized in the m:Ciudad project. By extending the widget model with advanced service aspects and semantics, m:Ciudad defines a novel architecture in the mobile terminal as well as in the framework.