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So you have an idea or concept that will revolutionize the Wireless Internet. How do you turn it into a real-world wireless application? Below is an overview of application development at Outr.Net. Keep in mind that this procedure is flexible depending on your circumstances and the goals of your application.
Contact Us. Itís up to you to get the ball rolling. Send us an email or give us a call. A brief description of your idea or concept is all it takes.
Answering your Questions. You might have a million questions about the Wireless Internet. What wireless device offers the right combination of usability, screen-size, and battery life? What networks offer the coverage, bandwidth, and throughput your application requires? The list goes on... Once youíve contacted us, we can begin to answer some of those questions. Weíll also raise some questions you might not have considered yet.
Understanding your Idea. After engaging in an NDA, weíll discuss your application at a high level. What problem are you trying to solve? Who is your target audience? When must the application be deployed? Once youíve answered these questions, Outr.Net can provide you with a high-level, technical assessment of the project. We can point out aspects of your application that are infeasible or impractical, as well as highlight aspects that are conducive to wireless technology or have proven successful in the past.
Engage in a Contract Development Agreement. This agreement defines our relationship with you. In a nutshell, it states that Outr.Net works on a time-and-materials basis, and that you own the documentation and source code.
Create a Storyboard. A storyboard is a graphical depiction of the application. It shows the screens and features of the application. The storyboard captures the requirements of your application in a visual format that end-users, managers, support personnel, executives, and developers can all understand. Outr.Net will work closely with your technical team to create the storyboard.
Characterize OTA Communications. In parallel with the storyboard, Outr.Net will create an over-the-air (OTA) protocol specification that describes the data transfer over the wireless network. At this point, the analysis is high-level, but itís a true gauge of the complexity of your application.
Select device(s) and network(s). Maybe you already have a specific device or client-side technology in mind, such as Palm, RIM, TimePort, Pocket PC, or J2ME? Or maybe you already have an alliance with a network carrier? Great! We can work with that. But if you need some help with those decisions, we can expedite your evaluation. Many of todayís applications are developed for multiple devices and multiple networks. Outr.Net will work with you to select and prioritize the ones that make most sense for your application.
Development Estimate. All the work weíve done so far feeds directly into the estimate. At this point, we can estimate the resource requirements, milestones, timeline, and cost of your application. That way you have a clear image of the road ahead of you. And what if that road appears too bumpy or curvy? Not a problem. If for any reason you decide not to move forward with the application, or not to continue working with Outr.Net, you have excellent storyboards and design documents that could be used by anyone to develop the application.
Application Architecture. Outr.Netís expertise will pay-off for you here. We can design your application to accommodate existing wireless devices and networks, while also planning ahead for future technology. Weíll also account for remote management and configuration of the wireless devices.
OTA Protocol Specification. Outr.Netís expertise will also pay-off here. We can optimize communications to reduce the airtime expenses of your application. We can also improve the performance and reliability of message delivery. Plus, weíll focus on error detection and recovery, which will ensure the application is solid and robust in production.
Coding Standards. Itís your source code, and weíll make sure itís "clean" by adhering to accepted coding standards. This will simplify the enhancement and maintenance of your application as it evolves.
Communications and Flexibility. Youíll find that open communications is the foundation of your relationship with Outr.Net. And thatís true through all phases of the project. We realize that the goals and priorities of your application may shift in mid-stream due to marketplace dynamics. Outr.Net will work with you to ensure that your application adapts to those changes. Youíll find Outr.Net is up-front, honest, and responsive, with no hidden agendas.
Alpha Testing and Beta Testing. Unexpected issues nearly always pop-up the first time "real" users interact with an application. With Outr.Netís experience on your side, you can minimize the likelihood of this occurring. But at the same time, weíll push your application to its limits so that you clearly understand its capabilities and limitations in a production environment.
Refinement. After each round of testing, Outr.Net will work to refine your application to ensure that all features are operational and optimized.
Certification. Once your application is finalized, Outr.Net will guide you through the certification process, which is required by some device manufacturers and network carriers.
Support. Outr.Net can provide second- or third-tier technical support to your team to ensure that field issues are resolved efficiently and quickly.
Planning the Next Generation. Congratulations, you've launched a successful commercial application! Now it's time to return to the Analysis and Prototyping phase to plan the next generation of your application.
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