Building and Testing USSD and SMS Applications

Deliver your applications to the end user using USSD and SMS What you'll learn:
Uses of USSD applications
Relationship between USSD applications and mobile network operators (MNO)
Types of SMS - Two-way SMS (shortcode), Premium SMS (selling content to users using SMS) and branded SMS (sender ID/alphanumeric)
USSD handling (USSD-MO & USSD-MT)
The HTTP protocol, Object Oriented PHP and PHP inbuilt functions
Designing USSD menus
USSD menus navigation - Going forward, going back and going back to main menu
Handling Invalid entries in USSD menus
Testing USSD menus using postman and ngrok
Connecting USSD menu to application logic
Connecting USSD application to MySQL database
Adding SMS functionality to USSD application
Testing USSD application using simulator/sandbox
Moving USSD application from sandbox to live environment
Exploring Africa's Talking USSD and SMS gateway
Monetizing USSD and SMS application

Requirements
Basic understanding of PHP programming language & web applications.
Basic understanding of web APIs
Basic understanding of MySQL databases

Description
In this course, you will have the opportunity to learn how USSD apps are related the GSM network. The course covers how to build menu driven USSD apps and how to integrate it with different types of SMS such as shortcode, branded SMS and premium SMS. USSD menu navigation will cover, go back, go forward, go to main menu and detecting invalid entries.

The course will teach you how design and build apps, which will deliver services to any type of phone - including feature phones. It also teaches you how to choose an SMS and USSD gateway as well as how to monetize you USSD skills (especially for entrepreneurs).

This course is hands on and throughout it, we will build a complete mobile money application based on USSD using PHP, MySQL. In addition, throughout the course we use other tools such as Postman, Composer, Ngrok, apache web server and USSD simulator as well as the HTTP protocol.

In summary, the course is organized into the following sections:

Introduction to USSD and SMS Applications

Introduction to PHP programming language and HTTP protocol

Building and Testing USSD Application Menu

Adding application functionality or logic to the USSD Menus

Adding SMS functionality to the USSD application – two-way, branded, and premium SMS

Moving from SANDBOX environment to LIVE environment

Monetizing USSD and SMS Applications

Who this course is for
College students in IT and computer science
College professors/lecturers
Marketers
Industry experts in IT
Entrepreneurs