This article contains the research on products available for enterprise level mobile Push notifications. Started out looking at Urban Airship, Parse, and Azure Mobile Services. More may be looked at later.
satya - 4/5/2013 10:00:54 AM
Their pitch
Push notifications give apps a voice. They provide a permission-based, value-added mobile messaging channel that delivers useful information to people when and where they want it. Done right, a good push marketing strategy can boost app engagement significantly.
satya - 4/5/2013 10:19:49 AM
So .... features
A library to link into your apps
A web console to create/plan and execute messages/campaigns
campaigns by device, location, preferences, segmentation
predefined location categories
preview of messages for the mobile device
When to run the campaigns
campaign landing pages
in-app rich notifications
inapp user interaction
Analytics
Reports/effectiveness of campaigns
satya - 4/5/2013 10:23:05 AM
Their claim
Lot of customers
scalable
All OS and devices
Reliable
secure
easy for app developers
targeting
satya - 4/5/2013 10:24:55 AM
Here are their customers
Almost every large company including the marketing heavy weights as RedBull
satya - 4/5/2013 10:27:52 AM
Here is a quick summary of BAAS platforms
satya - 4/5/2013 10:32:38 AM
Here is a note on how Urban Airship could be 14 times expensive than parse
Here is a note on how Urban Airship could be 14 times expensive than parse
This is a blog page so consider it and do your own research.
satya - 4/5/2013 10:35:33 AM
Here is a discussion on stackoverflow
Here is a discussion on stackoverflow
It appears although parse has started out as a cloud database it seem to have consoles etc to start competing with Urban Airship
satya - 4/5/2013 10:38:29 AM
Some others in this space
Urban Airship
Parse
Stackmob
appoxee
xtify
satya - 4/5/2013 10:56:41 AM
Parse features
campaign console
sdks
segmentation
analytics
...appears it is in initial stages...
satya - 4/5/2013 10:58:14 AM
Seem to be only for IOS and Android at this time.
Good for indie developers.
satya - 4/5/2013 11:00:14 AM
Azure Mobile Services
Azure Mobile Services
satya - 4/5/2013 11:04:38 AM
Here is the page that talks about windows mobile services
satya - 4/5/2013 11:06:04 AM
Highlevel Features
data storage
server side scripting
user management
push notifications
satya - 4/5/2013 11:07:20 AM
azure mobile services push notification console
azure mobile services push notification console
satya - 4/5/2013 11:15:44 AM
Here is a youtube seminar on push notifications
satya - 4/5/2013 11:18:31 AM
why do people seem to like parse
storage
user integration social
simple api
great docs
pricing
satya - 4/5/2013 11:23:20 AM
A quick impression so far
This is based on an hour searching. So it is not that reliable but rather first impressions.
Parse is in release 1. It is probably great for indie developers. It provides also the storage and an all in one solution. A good integrated soltuion.
Urbanairship is a powerhouse and seem to have lot of more comprenhensive control center. This may be good for a single focus on push notifications.
windows mobile services seem in their early release. It appears closer to parse in functionality. I haven't seen or found their console for controling the pushes.
For serious marketing and if the app already has an idea of users and data usage and has some cash then urban airship looks well so far!