[Android Apps and Games] fastbootmobile:
OwnPush

We know that push messaging is a key tool for developers to keep users engaged with their apps/services and to deliver timely content. Right now there's little or no choice in the way of push services outside of Google Cloud Messaging (GCM), which is a problem if you value control and security or want to reach the billion-or-so users without access to Google Mobile Services on their devices. As a result of working on XDA Labs and a few other internal projects, we at Fastboot and XDA have built an alternative to GCM that we want to make generally available.

OwnPush is:

- End-to-end encrypted: With GCM, all messages go through Google, which acts as the gatekeeper between developer and user. We know that Android users value their privacy, and OwnPush messages are encrypted (seamlessly and by default) from the developer's server, all the way through to the end device. This means that we (and anyone else in the path) can't get into your push messages. Like it should be.

- Simple to use: Push messages can be delivered to any device running Android, whether tablet or phone. It works over Wifi or mobile data, and it's very simple to use. To aid in implementing OwnPush in your applications, we will be providing libraries for major backend platforms to help with handling the encryption and signing process.

- Battery-light: GMS is fairly heavy on the battery, as it's got a huge number of features tied together, including location logging and Google accounts. OwnPush is as lightweight as possible.

We are still finishing things off, but we're looking to start working with developers on helping them integrate OwnPush in their apps. In the spirit of XDA, we'll be making it open source, although we need to finalize the details. You'll be able to include our (tiny, open source, easy-to-read) library in your app, and the rest will come automatically. We'll be working on some simple integration guides for the server side, so it's easy to send push messages using almost anything.

Below is a high-level overview of how ownPush works.

[IMG="ownPush High Level"]https://ownpush.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/ownpush_structural.png[/IMG]

What can this be used for?

OwnPush has the capability to be the driving force behind some really cool ideas, from a fully open-source PC-to-phone push system, to building real-time secure messaging platforms. OwnPush can do everything that other options can do, and it's more secure to boot! OwnPush enables you to keep your users informed while not impacting battery life. We hope that the uses for OwnPush are limited only to your imagination.

Open source tools are easier to work with, tweak and play with, and learn from. There's no reason to use the proprietary Google Services library just to get push messages working! Coupled with XDA Labs, you can start to build an ecosystem without relying on Google at all, and without them being able to shut your developer account down!

About Fastboot Mobile

We're a small, venture-capital free business. No external influences or pressures on how we work. We're developers like you, and we believe in giving people a real choice.

If you're interested in this, and want to get involved and have a play, please let us know via the thread or our contact form. At the moment, we're also looking to raise awareness of the technology behind OwnPush to the wider community. Together, we can make the default for push messaging secure, and perhaps even bring about an end to sending "secure login tokens" via SMS messages! We're looking to bring OwnPush to as many people as possible, so if you (or your business) have a need for properly secure push messaging, please get in touch.