I have a question regarding different types of web services. I'll preface this by saying that I have built a number of apps (for both ios and android) for personal use that interact with the web via php and sql. I have taught myself these languages, and as such don't have the broader background knowledge that many of you do.

My question is, in what other ways can you perform an interaction between a web service and a mobile device other than mobile -> php -> sql -> etc.

For example, If I built a very simple tracking app for my car, my current method would be to push GPS coordinates from my iphone to my database at a set interval, then I would write a simple bit of javascript that pulled those coordinates out of the database and superimposed them on a google map.

Is there a different way to do this? Such as the server acting as a live middle man who simple pushed the coordinates directly to a target browser? Without the database in the middle?

If so, are there advantages and disadvantages to these different methods to achieve different goals?

I know its a broad question but I'm really intrigued and I'm finding it difficult to word a google search for it.

Any info / reading material suggesting would be excellent.

Thanks