Apple Push Notification Service
Encyclopedia
The Apple Push Notification Service is a service created by Apple Inc. that was launched together with iOS 3.0 on June 17, 2009. It uses push technology
through a constantly-open IP connection to forward notifications from the servers
of third party applications to the Apple devices; such notifications may include badges, sounds or custom text alerts. APNS was also added as an API to Mac OS X
v10.7 "Lion
" for developers to take advantage of.
Apple first announced the service on 9 June 2008 with a slated release for that September; however, as stated by Scott Forstall
at the iOS 3.0 preview event on 17 March 2009, the rollout was delayed after a decision to restructure the APNS for scalability purposes due to the allegedly "overwhelming" response to the announcement of the APNS. At both events, Forstall stated that push notifications were a better means to maintain battery
life than background processes (which are used for pull technology
) as far as receiving notifications are concerned.
With Mac OS X Lion, an app can take advantage of the same API used in iOS to push badge numbers, sounds or notifications to applications running on Mac OS X. If the application is not open when the notification is received, the app will be badged and added to the dock (until the badge is cleared) to notify users.
APNS is used together with Mac OS X Lion Server to push update notifications to clients that have registered to receive updates via a configuration profile and are also using the server's mail, calendar and contacts services. This means that devices such as the iPhone and applications like iCal on the Mac can receive a notification
Each notification has a maximum size of 256 bytes, which makes it very efficient for services with small data allowances (such as mobile phones).
Push technology
Push technology, or server push, describes a style of Internet-based communication where the request for a given transaction is initiated by the publisher or central server...
through a constantly-open IP connection to forward notifications from the servers
Notification Service
A notification service provides means to send a notice to many persons at once. For example, if a flood were likely, residents of a community could be warned it time to evacuate. If a school were suddenly closed for the day, students or parents could be told not come to school, or told to report...
of third party applications to the Apple devices; such notifications may include badges, sounds or custom text alerts. APNS was also added as an API to Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
v10.7 "Lion
Mac OS X Lion
Mac OS X Lion is the eighth and current major release of Mac OS X, Apple's desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers....
" for developers to take advantage of.
Apple first announced the service on 9 June 2008 with a slated release for that September; however, as stated by Scott Forstall
Scott Forstall
Scott Forstall is the senior vice president of iOS Software at Apple Inc.Graduating from Stanford University in 1991 with a degree in symbolic systems, he received his Master's Degree for computer science, also from Stanford, the next year....
at the iOS 3.0 preview event on 17 March 2009, the rollout was delayed after a decision to restructure the APNS for scalability purposes due to the allegedly "overwhelming" response to the announcement of the APNS. At both events, Forstall stated that push notifications were a better means to maintain battery
Battery (electricity)
An electrical battery is one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Since the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta and especially since the technically improved Daniell cell in 1836, batteries have become a common power...
life than background processes (which are used for pull technology
Pull technology
Pull technology or client pull is a style of network communication where the initial request for data originates from the client, and then is responded to by the server. The reverse is known as push technology, where the server pushes data to clients.. Usually, customers will look for a site and...
) as far as receiving notifications are concerned.
With Mac OS X Lion, an app can take advantage of the same API used in iOS to push badge numbers, sounds or notifications to applications running on Mac OS X. If the application is not open when the notification is received, the app will be badged and added to the dock (until the badge is cleared) to notify users.
APNS is used together with Mac OS X Lion Server to push update notifications to clients that have registered to receive updates via a configuration profile and are also using the server's mail, calendar and contacts services. This means that devices such as the iPhone and applications like iCal on the Mac can receive a notification
Each notification has a maximum size of 256 bytes, which makes it very efficient for services with small data allowances (such as mobile phones).
External links
- APNS at Apple Developer Connection
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3576