A study on cloud-based backend for crowd-sourced sensor data collection apps

In the last few years, there is a change of backend paradigm for modern mobile applications (Apps). Traditionally, one has to develop a complete system, from the mobile front-end to the backend. This practice has evolved much with the recent introduction of the cloud-based backend to the mobile service development community. This paper discusses and studies selected Mobile-Backend-as-a-Service (mBaaS) services, with the focus on the use of these services for a crowd-sourced-based app. Five metrics have been selected to evaluation and compare three mBaaS platforms - Kinvey, App42 and Backendless. The five metrics are Availability, Processing Services, Computing services, Portability and Reconfiguration as well as Usability and Learnability. Both qualitative and quantitative comparison and evaluation have been carried out to produce the outcome of the study.