title: Sending push notifications in non-native app (web-app)?
body: <p>This is my first post on the forum, so please educate me if I got the tag, forum or content wrong.</p>
  
  <p>I am developing an app targeting iPhone and Android, which is a real-time, location based social network. The app will not be deployed through market place/app-store. </p>
  
  <p>From what I understand my only option is to make a web-app (HTML5/JS). All the functionality should be support except for a need to send push notifications to other users. </p>
  
  <p>The options, I have considered are:
  - Send an email, however this is not very real time.
  - Send an SMS, however this has some significant costs associated.
  - Linking to an IM of choice for the user and sending the notification through that IM</p>
  
  <p>As I understanding it all cross-platform frameworks sich as PhoneGab compiles to native and requires to be deployed through the app stores to take advantage of their APIs (correct me if I am wrong).</p>
  
  <p>Any easy work-around for a location based, push notification app framework to be offered outside the app stores?</p>
  
  <p>EDIT: I expect to distribute the app via a web-site. </p>
  
  <p>EDIT: The app service is a dating concept on the slightly sleezy side so I am afraid it will not pass the review gates and thus not be possible to distribute in the stores. Of course I could try using PhoneGap or Titanium and then do the webapp if it doesn't pass.</p>
  
  <p>Thanks for your support!</p>