Is MCP applicable for mobile client-side tools?

[fwwucn]

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• Protocol Specification
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• Server Implementation
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Your Question

I’m developing an Android chat assistant app, which can convert an user query to tool calls by invoking a backend service API on cloud. In my case, many tools must be run on mobile client side (i.e. on Android OS), and some of them are time-consuming, e.g. switching Bluetooth on/off, setting an alarm, making a phone call to somebody on behalf of user, etc. That means the problem is, agents on cloud must trigger a tool call running on mobile client side.

Is MCP server applicable for implement those tools running on mobile client side?
In my opinion, the answer is NO. It's not a good idea to start a http server on mobile phone, because it is power-consuming, vulnerable, and also mobile network is unstable.

If not applicable, what is the best way to call tools on mobile side from cloud side?
The only way I can think of is, forwarding LLM output of response.choices.message.tool_calls to mobile client side, then client parses the function name and arguments to invoke the tool.

[bingo787]

I’ve thought about this issue as well. Actually, you can start the MCP server when the corresponding app is launched on the phone and terminate the MCP server when the app exits.

[fwwucn]

I’ve thought about this issue as well. Actually, you can start the MCP server when the corresponding app is launched on the phone and terminate the MCP server when the app exits.

If so:

1. How to encapsulate android code to a MCP server? I think that the kotlin-sdk is not for android app, but for backend service based on Spring Framework.
2. How to register MCP server on mobile phone to cloud? Its IP is not fixed, and service is also unstable.

[blackLYH]

I have the same requirement. However, the official Kotlin SDK is not suitable for Android, particularly regarding communication protocols and the logic for running the MCP Server. In reality, mobile platforms have a larger user base for AI applications, and they need MCP.

[zhouhao27]

Same question here. I'm so surprised there is not many people ask for this. I know it's possible to implement the similar thing with function call but then there is no way to use so many MCP servers.

[ukpatell]

I'm tracking this issue as well, I'd love to be able to build MCP based application for iOS

[mattt]

You can use the official Swift SDK to build iOS apps that connect to remote MCP servers.

If you have any problems along the way, feel free to open up an issue in that repo and I'll do my best to help 😄

[zhuhaikuan]

The same question, would you have a plan to develop SDK for Android? Or if use kotlin-sdk for Android instead?