iOS Question Can MQTT (or a TCP Socket Connection) run in the background

[aminoacid]

Is there any way to let MQTT function in the background? I observed that when the phone goes to sleep, the MQTT connection disconnects. It does recover somewhat gracefully when the phone wakes up, but I need the connection to be maintained and data published (and possibly received) while in the background. Has anyone had success with this? Since MQTT is essentially using a TCP socket connection, my question can be extend to TCP connections.

I know that you can keep background file transfers and location updates going with:

#PlistExtra: <key>UIBackgroundModes</key><array><string>location</string></array>
#PlistExtra: <key>UIBackgroundModes</key><array><string>fetch</string></array>

But I could not find anything similar for TCP socket connections.

 

[Erel]

No. There is no such background mode. Why do you need it to stay connected? Maybe you should use push notifications.

 

[aminoacid]

Yes, I figured that would be the case. Thanks for the confirmation. I wanted to be able to send (publish) real-time location updates via MQTT even when the App is in the background. I guess my only other option is to prevent the phone from going to sleep.

 

[Erel]

I guess my only other option is to prevent the phone from going to sleep.

You cannot prevent the user from clicking on the home button.

 

[aminoacid]

Are you sure ?

 

[Erel]

Not any more...

 

[marcick]

Are you sure ?

Welcome to IOS ....

 

[coslad]

Push notification depends from Google or thirty part supplies.
No one can guarantee that the service will still be active within 10 years.
Mqtt with own broker will works forever !

My app will no published into Apple store, is there any way to use mqtt into a background task?

 

[Erel]

Push notification depends from Google or thirty part supplies.
No one can guarantee that the service will still be active within 10 years.

As I see it, this is not a good reason to implement your own solution.
1. You can use push notifications without Firebase which means that it only depends on Apple APN service. I recommend using Firebase.
2. If the service will not be available then you can update your app after 10 years.
3. Maintaining a consistent network connection is likely to be less reliable than push notifications which is an OS feature.

You can try to implement your app as a location app. The OS will keep it running when it goes to the background.

 

[coslad]

Thanks