This is a guest post from Jordi Allue, Senior SW Architect at Tuso technologies
In September 2014, Ubuntu invited Tuso Technologies to be one of the first Ubuntu Phone OS developers with a version of Fiabee’s Cloud-Mobile Collaboration, Synchronisation and Sharing App for the new Ubuntu Phone OS. We jumped at the opportunity because it was in line with Tuso Technologies’ cross-platform compatibility strategy and found it to be an interesting challenge. The process was far simpler and faster than we originally expected, and the results exceeded our expectations.
Fiabee is a carrier-grade, enterprise caliber, cloud-mobile Collaboration, Synchronization and Sharing Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). With Fiabee, Telecom Operators, Internet Service Providers and other Managed Service Providers generate new revenues and reduce churn by taking market share away from large OTT App (Over The Top Application) providers.
Ubuntu Phone Apps are created natively or in HTML5 within a WebApp. Fiabee’s existing HTML5 app, which includes CSS3 and Javascript, was the ideal match for Ubuntu Phone.
We started the process by installing Ubuntu’s Software Development Kit (SDK) and making ourselves familiar with it. The installation was straight forward with a simple "apt-get install ubuntu-sdk" instruction. Although we had no prior experience with Ubuntu’s Integration Development Environment (IDE), based on Qt Creator, the tutorials available on Ubuntu’s website helped us create our first HTML5 trial app. Next we tested the app directly on an Ubuntu Phone, getting familiar with Ubuntu’s Operating System (OS) and IDE was the most challenging of the tasks. That said, it only took us a few days to prepare the infrastructure to develop our own app. For those who don’t have an Ubuntu Phone, Ubuntu’s SDK provides a mobile device emulator.
From there on, it was easy to adapt Fiabee’s web application to Ubuntu’s environment. With the help of the SDK instructions and manuals, we integrated the Web app into the development project, ran it on the device and created the deployment package. After configuration, we adapted the visual appearance and operation to Ubuntu’s standards.
We were amazed to find that the functions of Fiabee’s App which are often difficult to adapt were almost automatic with Ubuntu Phone, such as accessing the phone’s file system, interacting with third party Apps or opening documents downloaded from the cloud. This demonstrates that Ubuntu OS is truly “open”. During the last steps of creating the package and uploading it to the Ubuntu App Directory, we had a minor problem with the definition of the App’s security policies but that was quickly resolved with the help of Ubuntu’s App Directory Tech Support team.
From our perspective, bringing Fiabee to Ubuntu Phones was a piece of cake. It was a quicker and an easier experience than we’ve had with other platforms, despite it being new and notably different from the others with its App interaction menu. We were able to carry over all the functionalities of the Fiabee App without losing any, as was the case with other platforms, and without having to invest re-development time. It was as simple as tweeking Fiabee’s existing web app. With Fiabee’s App for Ubuntu Phones, we continue to deliver a good user experience to Fiabee users with a further extended range of mobile devices with which to access our service.
About Tuso technologies SL. Founded in late 2008, with offices in Barcelona, Spain, and Palo Alto, USA, Tuso Technologies develops carrier-grade, enterprise-caliber, cloud-mobile Value-Added-Services (VAS), including Fiabee, Locategy & Open API, selected by leading Mobile Network Operators, ISV and corporations such as Telefonica (Movistar), France Telecom (Orange) , Ono (Vodafone), R Cable, Panda Security, Applus+ among others.