[IRodMan]

Hi guys
I am working on an application, right now I haven't started too work on the codes just yet, I am busy with the conception, and I need some help. The app Im working on, should allow users to bet on Horse races, via their cell phone. Basically, no need to go to the stadium, just use the app and you send the numbers of the horses you think will win, you pay with your airtime and you receive an electronic tickets that you will show to the concern person if you happen to win.
Here start the trouble, what ressources should I choose to accomplish it? The country I am living in (Gabon in central Africa if anyone know) has 4 cell phone service provider but none of them has technology like 3G or 4G, they plan to implemant it but for the time being I have to do without.
So what should I do, since most of the cell phone here are the same that you can find in the US, still some are not that developed. Should I put the app on a server? Then how the customers will access it? Internet doesn't seem a good solution, so if anyone have an idea please let me know.

[eclipsed4utoo]

Moved to the Mobile Development forum.

[IRodMan]

Ok thanks I am very sorry, Im kind of new at it.

This post has been edited by IRodMan: 09 August 2010 - 05:01 AM

[eclipsed4utoo]

You would definitely need to either use something like WebServices or the entire application being a web site. You are going to have to communicate with the track to know whether the race is already over, because you wouldn't want a user to bet on a horse after the race.

[IRodMan]

Yeah I can see that... But the whole app being a website will be a problem because I want my customers to access the app with their cell phones but only 2 out of the 4 cellphone service providers where I am from give the internet mobile service. Moreover, I thought about the customers sending an sms like "Tierce(it's a race type name) 3-5-9(the horses numbers they bet on)" and send it to a number like 34040 and paying directly with their airtimes. And they will receive electronically the proof of that. And I still can't figure out how to do that.

[IRodMan]

Guys I really need help here, can some one help me with this?

[hartra34]

If you want to do with with C# you're best bet is to develop it for the new windows phone 7 platform which is completely based off C# and silverlight; as far as a texting service, it would be hard to do and I can't really verify for sure that it is doable, I guess if they register everything first on a website then set it up to where they txt the webservice for their actual bets and it would recognize them by their phone number, but that opens a whole can of worms when it comes to real authentication, someone could easily get their hands on someone elses phone. but it would run on a server with a back end API, not really my area of expertise though. And as far as pre-paid airtime, I don't know about africa, but I can't think of one american service that would allow that(attatching it to the monthly bill maybe but not prepaid)

This post has been edited by hartra34: 22 August 2010 - 08:53 PM

[IRodMan]

Thanks Artra34... You see my problem now, here it's more ebout prepaid, it's not base on phone bill at the end of the month. My other problem is about the hardwares that I should use. In order for them to send to a phone number a message that will be caught by the database and be replied to, sould I connect a cell phone to the computer? Is there any PCI card that allows you to integrate a sim card to your PC while keeping sending the signal as if it was still inside a cell phone? As you can see it is a very ambitious program but it is a hell of a HEADACHE but if I can't find the answer on dreamincode then where?

[hartra34]

Yeah as far as the prepaid time goes you would have to talk to wireless carriers around your area and see what the policy is on it.

My advice:
*have a website where users put their information/ CC numbers and stuff into a database(very encrypted and protected of course)

* associate a cell number with the person in the database

*here is some information on making a program that can send and recieve SMS information: http://www.ozekisms...._e_315opt.html; possibily doable in silverlight

*when a person texts the server it parses the text(make sure they text in a certain format) into the amount of money bet and which horse; it then reads the phone number sent from and connects it to the person in the database; probably a good idea to include a password in the text too though for security.

*it then uses the Credit Card in the Database to make the bet, and done!

of course it wont be easy but definitely sounds like a fun challenge program!

[IRodMan]

Thanks man I will try it right away.

[Ikonmx]

I would recommend to use the IMEI and the Phone Number of the phone as the identifier of the device. As you can switch SIM cards more often than the phone itself.