Widget for Android,Home Broadband Usage

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Widget for Android,Home Broadband Usage

finerdesign

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#90614 25-Sep-2011 21:42

Hi guys,
I've just developed a Telecom Broadband usage widget for android phone and plan on selling it (for dirt cheap) to get back some coin spent on the developer phone/software etc. I'm worried about this legal statement on the telecom site:

We advise that you may not copy or display for redistribution to third parties
or for commercial purposes any portion of this site without Telecom's
express permission.

My argument is that my app acts as a 'hidden' web browser to retrieve the broadband usage info, so i can't see how it differs from surfing the site. And people will be paying for the widget interface, not access to the telecom site info.

Could I please have any thoughts on the matter and maybe a telecom contact to discuss to matter with.

If successful i plan on making a widget for mobile balance/time/data usage

Thanks for your time
-Dave

widget

l43a2

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#525667 25-Sep-2011 23:23

maybe you could sell the idea to telecom :P

old3eyes

9119 posts

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Subscriber

#525684 26-Sep-2011 08:44

Will this work on non XT mobiles??

Regards,

Old3eyes

mort

29 posts

Geek

#525704 26-Sep-2011 10:05

I doubt they would go for a completley third party app due to security issues. you are screen scrapping so would be collecting all the customers usernames and passwords for 'your telecom' access.

finerdesign

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#525721 26-Sep-2011 11:26

Had to look up scrapping to see what it means.

Your correct, it's "scrapping" (emulating a internet browser to return data), the users details are strore in a encripted data file in the phones internal(non accessable) directory. There is no collecting of details or any 3rd party servers/services involved, only for storage for the app to access.

The app will work on any android device

stevenz

2802 posts

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#525860 26-Sep-2011 15:44

Would it be worth contacting Telecom to see if they have a legitimate API for performing this function? Is it sending the username/password as plaintext as it stands?

From a copyright\security standpoint, would such an app differ much from the similar 3rd party 2Degrees apps? (At least one of which is also developed by a GZ forum member).

@KnightNZ

nate

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#525886 26-Sep-2011 16:31

stevenz: From a copyright\security standpoint, would such an app differ much from the similar 3rd party 2Degrees apps? (At least one of which is also developed by a GZ forum member).

I'm pretty sure the 2Degrees app also screen scrapes, hence a forum post (which I can't find right now) about giving the app your sensitive username/password details.

All ISPs should be providing APIs - more savvy users can create apps, and ISPs push these to their users without having to invest in time/money to support them.

Win/win really.

akia

489 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#525898 26-Sep-2011 16:57

Hi team,

No we do not have an official API to use at this stage.

I have passed your feedback onto the Business Owners.

Regards,
Amber Craig

Equinox IT

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finerdesign

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#525909 26-Sep-2011 17:31

stevenz: Would it be worth contacting Telecom to see if they have a legitimate API for performing this function? Is it sending the username/password as plaintext as it stands?

It does a HTTP post request with user/pass word in the parameters to a HTTPS URL just like your browser does in the background when you log in. So I believe it's as secure as possible.

From a copyright\security standpoint, would such an app differ much from the similar 3rd party 2Degrees apps? (At least one of which is also developed by a GZ forum member).

I did stumble apon his creations halfway through creating this, he obviously bet me to the point, and sells premium versions for money. I do notice his telecom widget is free (possibly due to the legal statement) but also requires traffic to pass through his server due to a tricky redirect.

I will give telecom a buzz tomorrow if all going good it should be on the market in a day or so.

Thanks for your comments guys.