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Application Management For Windows Mobile Devices

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Microsoft Windows® Mobile based Smartphone and Microsoft Windows® Mobile based Pocket PC enable you to manage applications on a device. Microsoft Smartphone 2003 Software and Microsoft Pocket PC 2003 Software, in conjunction with other tools provided by Microsoft, provide for application packaging, delivery, installation, uninstallation, activation, and for Smartphone application signing. These application management processes have been designed to meet the following goals:

  • Simple and minimal user involvement
  • Enhanced security when downloading through optional cabinet (.cab) file signing on Smartphone
  • Flexible download methods with compression to take advantage of the device's connected state
  • Support for the various revenue models of operators who distribute applications
  • Reliability through configuration transactioning
  • Integration with the provisioning model in the Configuration Manager

The steps to package, deliver, install, and remove an application on Smartphone and Pocket PC are very similar.

The following diagram illustrates the typical steps to package, deliver, install, and remove an application on Smartphone. A detailed description of each process is provided in the sections that follow.

The following list shows the parts of the application management process:

  • Packaging for Delivery
    New applications and updates, such as new DLL files, are packaged as .cab files for delivery to Microsoft Windows® Mobile based Smartphone and Microsoft Windows® Mobile based Pocket PC. Typically, .cab file creation requires the finalized program files and Pocket PC SDK tools. In addition, some users may want to provide extra CEsetup.dll integration or Microsoft ActiveSync installation information.
  • Application Delivery
    Applications on Smartphone and Pocket PC can be downloaded and installed through several mechanisms, including Microsoft Pocket Internet Explorer, Microsoft ActiveSync, E-mail/SMS, SI/SL, and Storage card.
  • Application Installation
    New applications or updates for existing applications (such as new .dll files) are delivered to Smartphone and Pocket PC in the form of downloaded .cab files.
  • Application Activation
    Applications can be pre-bundled on Smartphone and Pocket PC at the point of manufacture. Application activation allows mobile operators to provide subscription-only services to users. When a user subscribes to a service that requires the use of an application that is pre-bundled on the device, the mobile operator can activate the application over the air.
  • Application Uninstallation
    The groundwork for uninstallation takes place during an installation, when the Configuration Manager saves an XML rollback document that contains information about any changes that are made.

See Also

Device Management for Windows Mobile Devices | Application Management Security | Application Signing Using eMbedded Visual C++ (SP Only) | Effect of the Application Execution Policy (Unsigned Applications Policy) on the Application Installation Process (SP Only)

Last updated on Friday, April 22, 2005

© 2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

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