API /Webservice to access minute usage data

[nishantpant]

Hi,

I noticed that my.t-mobile.com internally uses a WCF service to retrieve minute usage date, billing details etc. What would it take to expose this service /API to developers? I am really interested in writing an application which could use this data and provide value added services to tmobile customers.

-Nick

[Takeshi]

Hello nishantpant and welcome to the T-Mobile Partner Network,

When making apps available, T-Mobile is primarily concerned about our customer's security and user experience. To that end, most of our network APIs that would provide personally identifiable information are restricted and unavailable to Java Apps and WAP sites.

Without getting into specifics, usage and billing information is particularly difficult to expose without also exposing other customer information. That is not to say that T-Mobile isn't working on creating APIs that make this information available to developers, there just isn't one yet.

I've seen a few apps that dial #646# (#MIN#) for the user, but that's about the only workaround I'm aware of at this time.

Thank you,
Takeshi

[nishantpant]

Revisiting the forum after several months.

Thanks Takeshi for your reply. But here are my arguments in support of what I am trying to achieve :
Exposing minute usage information should be easily done without having the need to expose any private info about the customer. All I am looking for is what you see on the minute usage screen (minutes used/sms sent/minutes remaining/next due amount/next due date etc. I am currently screen scraping it and it is working(but needless to say it is painful and doesnt always work).

My argument here is, when the customer is willingly giving my software his login/password..Tmobile should have no problems when my program tries to access this information.

Again to counter your argument about not exposing client info for security reasons. If the login /password are leaked ..even if there is no API, a hacker could simply login to his my.t-mobile.com web account and wreak havoc anyway.

[Takeshi]

Welcome back nishantpant,

I don't really disagree with you on any particular point you've made here. I think the issue is more along security of the API itself, meaning can we let a program into the billing system without exposing protected information?

As you may have noticed, T-Mobile did infact create an application for the Android based phones that does access usage information, so my previous statement of "That is not to say that T-Mobile isn't working on creating APIs that make this information available to developers, there just isn't one yet." still applies as they have indeed developed at least one API for one platform.

When/If these will be released to public development, I just can't say for sure.

Wish I could be more helpful on this front and I will continue to bring your concerns (and those of everyone in this community) to the table. Thank you for your persistant voice as that's the only way we can serve you better,
Takeshi