Web and iOS-based Instant Messaging (IM) Application for Educational Institution with Limited Internet Access Regions

The development of communication technology through smartphone has made real time communication (chat) faster, easier, and cheaper for educational institutions, especially between students and lecturers. This study aims to develop an architecture for Web and iOS-based instant messaging (IM) application and implement it into educational institutions in limited internet access regions according to its conditions and needs as a fast, easy, efficient, and effective communication and to support the lecture operations. Data collection method in this study is carried out by distributing questionnaire to lecturers and students. The IM development method is by using the Rational Unified Process (RUP). XMPP protocol is implemented into architecture and IM is developed with features of private chat, class-grouping based chat, broadcast message, scheduled message, and file attachment. This IM can accelerate the delivery of information from educational institutions to or between students and lecturers.