Mobile Cloud Computing
Cloud Computing consists of multiple features and terminologies. While learning about the cloud, you will come across one of the popular terms known as Mobile Cloud Computing. Today we will discuss this exciting topic.
What is Mobile Cloud Computing?
Mobile Cloud takes the help of Cloud Computing to deliver the applications to mobile users. The following mobile applications can be deployed by the user from any location quickly and flexibly with development tools.
Users can build the Mobile Cloud applications or can revise them very rapidly with Cloud Services.
The applications can be delivered to many users of different devices running with multiple Operating Systems, Computing Tasks, and Data Storage.
Thus, it allows users to access these applications’ that were not previously supported.
Mobile Cloud Applications
At present, there are two types of applications related to Mobile Cloud Computing that are almost the same. So, let us discuss them.
1. Mobile Cloud Application
Mobile Cloud Application is described as a model where the processing task is completed in the Cloud Environment, and the storage facility is also available in Cloud.
But the mobile device is considered as the presentation medium. For this, the user must have a reliable Internet connection and mobile phone to run the browser.
It permits the users to use their smartphones along with Cloud Technology with the following characteristics:
- Smartphones must have a recognizable and standardize Operating System (Like Android, iOS)
- It offers advanced audio calls, video calls, and conferencing call features.
- Smart Phones must be capable of running the installer application.
- The messaging feature must be applied.
- The device must have a proper and stable Internet connection.
2. Mobile Web Services
In Mobile Web Services, mobile devices exhaust more network traffic. Thus, it will lead to some issues for web Services like the resolution mismatch and desktop computer details.
The device must have the information about the service and the method that can be accessed to use any Web service.
The mobile device can transfer some precise knowledge of the device’s condition and the user. Permitting the Mobile Web Services are as follows:
- It will enable Web service systems with Web Services.
- Secondly, it will also authorize the in-built external devices.
- It will also permit the rest protocol
- It also confirms the XML – RPC Protocols
- Finally, it will also enable the ability to authenticate the user profiles.
Features of Mobile Cloud Computing
- It helps in the rapid development and shared resources of Mobile Applications.
- MCC also supports multiple development techniques and various devices.
- It helps to improve reliability and helps to keep the information secure by keeping a backup and storing the data on the Cloud.
- Applications utilize the device’s resources at a lower rate because they have the support of Cloud Technology.
- Mobile devices are connected to the services and are delivered on the Application Programming Interface (API) architecture.
Why Mobile Cloud?
1. Speed and Flexibility
Mobile Cloud helps in building or revising the applications quickly with the help of Cloud Services. They can also deliver the applications on multiple devices running with different Operating Systems.
2. Shared Resources
Mobile Applications dependent on Cloud are not limited to the device storage and processing of the resources. Data-Intensive processes can run in Cloud Environment.
3. Integrated Data
Mobile Cloud Computing permits the users to rapidly and safely collect and integrate the data collected from different sources apart from the factor where it is stored.
Considerations for Mobile Cloud Computing
1. Management
IT Teams do not have to constantly think and worry about the resources required to manage the applications. Cloud Vendors will help them.
2. Infrastructure
Rise in demand if an application can result from the stress on devices. Flexible cloud infrastructure can be a solution for managing challenging workloads.
3. Integrations
Organizations must completely integrate their mobile systems into various business processes, which will result in saving cost and time.
4. Security
Every organization has the key aim to protect their sensitive information at each level for users, devices, and by integration in other systems.
Factors to be considered while Adopting Mobile Cloud Services
1. Trends and Demands
Clients always expect convenience while visiting and using the organization’s website or applications from any location and at any moment.
Mobile Cloud Computing is built for this purpose. Users always want access to their business applications from any location to develop their productivity when traveling.
2. Improved and Increased Broadband Coverage
3G and 4G network connections and Wi-Fi offer better connectivity for mobile devices using Cloud Computing.
3. Enabling Technologies
The following are the enabling technologies that will increase the adoption of mobile cloud computing. They are as follows:
- HTML 5
- CSS 3
- Hypervisor for mobile Devices
- Cloudlets
- Web 4.0
Characteristics of Mobile Cloud Applications
1. Cloud Infrastructure
Cloud Infrastructure is a dedicated form of information Infrastructure which is utilized for storing data.
2. Data Cache
Here the data can be locally cached.
3. User Accommodation
In Mobile Cloud Computing, the scope of residing various under requirements in developing the Cloud Applications are available.
4. Easy Access
Mobile Cloud Applications can be easily accessed from mobile devices, desktops, and laptops. Cloud Applications also have the facility to provide access to a broad new range of services set.
Mobile Cloud Computing Working
In a data center, the operations of Mobile Cloud Applications are generally carried out by a third-party vendor, the data is stored, and the computer cycles work out.
A back-end team responsible for supporting multiple access processes manages the aspects like uptime, integration, and security factors.
The following application can function well online; however, regular updating is required. It is not permanently stored inside the device, and it does not occupy any storage space on a computer or any other device.
But primarily, it offers mainly the same experience as desktop applications while providing portability of Web applications.
Mobile Cloud Computing Service Framework
The framework for Mobile Cloud Computing slices down into Cloud Computing and Mobile Computing. If we discuss mobile devices, it includes smartphones, laptops, and tablets. The following devices are connected to the internet with Wi-Fi or mobile data technologies.
Cloud Computing is the key concept. Mobile devices send the device requests to Cloud, and then the management component allocates the resources.
At the same time, there are implementations of calculation, monitor the functions, and ensure the service quality until the connection successfully completes.
Mobile Cloud Applications
A Mobile Cloud Application is one of the popular software programs specially designed to be accessible with the internet by using portable devices. In the real world, there are many cases where we use mobile cloud solutions. They are as follows:
1. Email
Email is considered the most common example that is used by many users. Some famous examples of mobile email are Gmail, Outlook. So, when the user accesses the emails with a mobile phone, they are using the mobile cloud technology.
2. Commerce
Banking Applications or e-shop are the famous examples that are using Mobile Cloud Computing. In Mobile, Commerce MCC makes use of scalable processing power.
3. Social Media
Social Media platforms like Twitter, Instagram allow real-time data sharing in social networking.
4. Healthcare
In Mobile Healthcare MCC authorizes the vast amount of primary data storage in the Cloud. It can be accessible with a mobile device.
Mobile Cloud Computing Architecture
MCC consists of four types of Cloud Resources. They are as follows:
- Distant Mobile Cloud
- Distant Immobile Cloud
- Proximate Entities of Mobile Computing
- Proximate the Entities of immobile Computing
- Hybrid
Advantages of Mobile Cloud Computing
1. Cost Friendly
The user does not experience any heavy number of charges while working with Mobile Cloud Computing. It is similar to your wallet. You must pay only for what you have used.
2. Flexibility
Cloud Services help to develop and update Mobile Cloud Applications. MCC supports a wide range of development techniques and devices. Users can take the help of MCC apart from Cloud Platform. Cloud Applications also work like web-based applications by fetching the data with Cloud interaction. It makes sure about the smooth running and an effortless user experience.
3. Shared Resources
Mobile Applications which are dependent on the cloud utilize fewer device resources because of cloud support. Mobile Applications are not reliant on-device storage or processing resources. Cloud Vendor handles the significant processes, and thus it also reduces the battery consumptions.
Sharing Resources also support a wide range of applications and multi-tenancy in many users.
4. Integrated Data
MCC allows users to gather and integrate data from a variety of sources available in different resources. It can be accessed quickly and very securely. The integration of cloud computing is effortless.
The user accesses real-time data according to the requirement, and it will also save the data in a cloud environment. Also, it helps in backing up the data.
5. Data Recovery
By adopting MCC, users can recover their sensitive data from the cloud by following some standardized processes. Recovery is possible from any location till there is an active and stable internet connection.
Also, the user should ensure they have accurate storage space on their device.
Challenges in Mobile Cloud Computing
1. Performance
Remote servers are responsible for hosting and managing cloud applications. Users can access them with the use of public networks. Thus, it can lead to slower responses and affect the mobile cloud application speed.
2. Connectivity
Users must have a stable internet connection to use mobile cloud applications. If the user is working in a low network connectivity zone, they will face issues using the Cloud Applications. Also, sometimes with higher mobile user demands, there is a high rise in mobile data traffic. It will affect the communications between the mobile and cloud endpoints.
3. Vendor Lock-in
It is challenging to migrate between cloud vendors in case you are stuck with vendor lock-in. Thus, the user should make sure and read the terms and conditions before adopting the Cloud Vendor.
4. Battery Life
High network usage affects the battery life, and frequently it results in battery drainage. Cloud vendors take care of the primary processing so ensure that the device has a good battery life to access the applications and other operations.
5. Compatibility
The cloud infrastructure has to support several platforms. They might be costly to implement because of various network connection requirements.
6. Low Bandwidth
Mobile Cloud utilizes radio waves which are limited if we compare to the wired networks. In every mobile device, the available wavelength is distributed. Therefore, it is three times slower in speed while comparing with the wired network.
7. Security and Privacy
It is a challenging task to identify and manage the threats on mobile devices if we compare them with desktop devices. Because in the wireless network to get the absence of information in the network.
8. Service Availability
Many users face network breakdown, transportation crowds, out of coverage, and many other issues. Some customers receive low-frequency signals that affect the access speed and storage location.
9. Alteration of Networks
Users use Mobile Cloud Applications in various operating system-driven platforms such as Apple iOS, Android, and Windows Phone. Thus, it must be compatible with many platforms. The performance of the mobile platform network is maintained by the IRNA, which stands for Intelligent Radio Network Access technique.
10. Limited Energy Source
Mobile Devices consume more energy, and they are less powerful. Mobile Cloud Computing increases the usage of the battery of mobile devices, and thus it raises a crucial issue. Devices must make sure that they have a long durable battery to access the applications and multiple operations.
11. Emergency Efficient Transmission
There should be the regular transmission of information between mobile devices and the cloud environment.
12. Mobile Communication Congestion
As there is a rise in demand for Mobile Cloud Services, the workload to permit smooth communications between Cloud Environment and mobile devices has risen.
13. Live VM Migrations
It is a difficult task to migrate an application that is resource concentrated to the cloud and to execute it with the help of a Virtual Machine.
14. Architectural Issues
Mobile Cloud Computing requires building architectural neutrality because of the heterogeneous environment.
Security in Mobile Cloud Computing
In Mobile Computing, Data Security and Privacy are some of the crucial issues. Mobile users mainly offer sensitive information with their network or during the use of the application.
If the information is not protected, it can lead to severe issues and data breaches.
Mobile Cloud Applications must be appropriately secured and mitigate the risks depending on user actions. So, the user must take care while selecting and deciding the provider.
One must adopt a reliable cloud service provider who will take the responsibility to secure the user’s data.
Conclusion
Mobile Cloud Computing is one of the powerful business tools in the industry. It takes the help of Cloud Computing to deliver the services on mobile devices and consists of multiple services.
It is very flexible, budget-friendly, and offers a complete set of benefits. Also, it has many challenges, including security and privacy issues.