Implement Advanced Location Services in AlertBuddies – Native Android

Job ID: 39931052

Budget: $250 – $750 USD

About AlertBuddies
AlertBuddies is a safety application that enables users to instantly alert their trusted contacts during emergencies. The platform supports SOS activation, live tracking, trip monitoring, and real-time location sharing.

Website: https://www.alertbuddies.com

Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pagematics.alertbuddies

YouTube Demos:

Introduction & Buddy Management: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3cHgQFR-_Q

SOS, WatchMe & Trip Feature: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQMz5IOxTuI

Objective

We are looking for a native Android or team to implement continuous and reliable location tracking even if the app is in background/killed-state.
The app must be able to send user location updates to AWS IoT (IoT topic) even when:

The app is in the background

The app is swiped away or force-killed

Location of a user is requested on demand from the server side.

We will provide all backend APIs and authentication (Keycloak + JWT) once the developer is confirmed.

Clarification

During our research, we noticed that some apps are able to fetch a user’s live location even when the app is not running in the background. This may be achieved using silent push notifications or other OS-level techniques — we are open to expert guidance on the best possible approach.

Our goal is to implement a robust, production-ready location tracking system similar to leading apps in the safety/location tracking space.

Key Requirements

Native mobile development — no hybrid.

Real-time location streaming (~every 5 seconds when the user is moving).

Intelligent battery optimization — reduce tracking when idle, high accuracy when moving.

Support both GPS-level precision and Significant Location Change (SLC).

Should automatically resume or wake up silently for location transmission.

Suggested methods could include silent push wakeups or OS background service strategies.

Comparable reliability to apps like Life360 (the location tracking feature of this app is what we need) or Family Nest.

Deliverables

Complete source code and project files developed during the project.

Step-by-step documentation on how to build, configure, and run the project in our local or server environment.

Assistance in setting up and successfully running the project on our machine to ensure everything works as expected.

Native tracking module for Android.

Demo or test screen to showcase background/killed-state tracking.

Recommendations on the best approach used (push-trigger, system service, etc.).

Ideal Experience

Strong background in native mobile development.

Expert understanding of background services & low-level OS behavior.

Experience with continuous tracking, and connecting to AWS IoT MQTT.

Ability to build efficient, optimized, and production-ready modules.

Proposal Requirements

Please include:

Examples of similar work or live apps you have built.

Timeline and estimated cost.

A high-level summary of the approach/techniques you plan to use.

We are looking for a reliable and experienced partner who can deliver production-grade background location tracking similar to leading safety/location apps.

Acceptance Criteria

Please refer the below documentation
https://docs.google.com/document/d/16qJwYB_nArmzYoTHopRSKZe1UFVrj9fI2sOrksDLxAc/edit?tab=t.0