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I am trying to create a instant messaging app very much like whatsapp I suppose. My resources I have available to me are Server development in C# (REST Service, dedicated server app etc)

And currently an android development platform using eclipse (iphone, wp7 to follow later). I have done some development in Android before but I don't have any idea where to start an application like this.

My guess would be it would work with UDP / TCP or similar ? I currently have a shared server for an asp.net website but I presume this wouldn't be ideal, I could essential setup a web service on the server and get a client to publish his messages there but then this would mean that the receivers would have to POLL (PULL) every 5 minutes or so - so I guess this wouldn't be real time

Do I need to use UDP here ?

And I presume platforms like Iphone, Android and WP7 will not have any issues sending msgs by UDP - if that is how its done.

I look forward to any help or guidance.

Mat
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Martin
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    Do you want to write an app that can inter operate with WhatsApp clients? If not, why don't you use the xmpp protocol? Try asmack for a start then. – Dirk Jäckel Jun 17 '12 at 09:49
  • I agree with Dirk. Rather than try to reinvent the IM wheel, pick a protocol and server stack for that, with XMPP being the likely candidate. – CommonsWare Jun 17 '12 at 10:35
  • Thanks very much for the reply. No i am not trying to interoperate with whatsapp... The xmpp looks great but the problem being is that works via tcp - doesn't it? and it appears that each language needs an api library. I thought the idea was to use UDP. Also it appears i would have to create a XMPP server and the components for these don't seem to be free for c# – Martin Jun 17 '12 at 10:45
  • Does XMPP work similar to UDP then? i.e. not like TCP where it requires actually connections – Martin Jun 17 '12 at 10:45
  • Ok after a little investigation, yep seems that XMPP is the way to go... Anyone care to post it as an answer so i can accept the reply.. – Martin Jun 17 '12 at 10:59

1 Answers1

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As all the other comments already suggested you should go with XMPP - there is a huge collection of available libraries you can find here.

Best wishes, Tim

Tim
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