Beyond the messaging framework, the GCM library comes with GcmNetworkManager, an API that allows us to efficiently schedule recurrent or periodic tasks on all the devices that run API level 9 (Android 2.1) and above. For devices running on API Level 21 (Lollipop) and above, GCM Network Manager uses the native JobScheduler API internally, covered in detail in Chapter 7, Exploring the JobScheduler API. In the same way as the JobScheduler API, it will try to batch the jobs and reduce the number of wakeups from idle state to improve the battery life of your user's device.
Moreover, with GCM Network Manager we are also able to set criteria that should meet to start the job execution, such as when the device is in a charging state or an unmetered WIFI connectivity is available. Although the GCM API offers us the same criteria offered by the JobScheduler API, it can be used on older and newer devices that have Google Play Services installed.
So, before you...
