Selecting web framework for Blackberry

3
votes

For our multi platform app store, we currently have a native app only for Android. For other platforms we use a responsive web which are quite limited.

Look and feel can stay web, native not needed. But we need some additional functions not available directly from web:

Important:

  • SMS sending
  • Persistent storage

    Desirable:

  • Package handling (find out which apps are installed)
  • Push (send message from desktop to mobile phone)

    We need this specifically for Blackberry 6, 7 and 10 but in the future other platforms might be interesting (Symbian, IOS, Windows Phone).

    Frameworks we have looked at:

    WebWorks

  • + Supports BB 6, 7 & 10
  • + Supported by RIM
  • + SMS sending is possible
  • - BB only, no other platforms

    MoSync

  • +/- Supports BB 6 and maybe 7
  • + Many other platforms supported
  • + SMS sending is possible

    PhoneGap

  • + Supports BB 6, 7 & 10
  • + Many other platforms supported
  • - SMS sending is probably not possible?

    Mobl

  • + Supports BB 6, 7 & 10
  • + Many platforms supported
  • - SMS sending is probably not possible?


    1. Do you have experience if SMS sending work with any of these frameworks for BB 6 & 7? What about 10?
    2. What about the other functions, are they available?
    3. Other framework suggestions?
    • 2
    blackberryframeworksweb

    2 Answers

    0
    votes

    Phonegap for BlackBerry is built on top of WebWorks. So IMHO you should be able to send sms from phonegap on blackberry.
    Did you try the options given here Calling phone sms api by use of phonegap using javascript ?

    0
    votes

    We decided to go with WebWorks because as Vivek says Phonegap is anyway built on WebWorks for Blackberry. Many people recommended us to stay away from Phonegap because we would in reality not gain much portability.

    Answers to my questions:
    1. Implemented: SMS sending is easy and works well on Blackberry 6 & 7 (10 not tested)
    2. Implemented: Persistent storage.
    - Push is available: http://developer.blackberry.com/html5/api/blackberry.push.html
    - Don't know about package handling yet.
    3. We did not look at any more framworks than WebWorks, MoSync, Phonegap & Mobl.