Chat with Intrinsyc about Networking and Communications in Windows CE .NET

Posted May 11, 2003

Chat Date: April 29, 2003

Please note: Portions of this transcript have been edited for clarity

Chat Participants:

• Ming Huang, Software Developer - Intrinsyc
• Kurt Kennett, Senior Software Developer - Intrinsyc
• Mark Janke: Field Applications Manager - Intrinsyc
• Joseph Lee: Program Manager - Windows CE Networking team - Microsoft
• Deepika Arora, Program Manager - Windows CE Networking team - Microsoft
• David Campbell, Lead Program Manager - Windows CE Networking team - Microsoft

Moderator: Mike (Microsoft)
Welcome to today's chat with Intrinsyc about Networking and Communications in Windows CE .NET! Questions, comments, and suggestions are welcome. Let’s introduce our hosts for today.

Host: Ming (Intrinsyc)
Ming Huang is a software developer in Intrinsyc with 8-year-experiences in s/w engineering and network admin

Host: Kurt (Intrinsyc)
Kurt Kennett is a Senior Software developer with over 10 years experience in systems software development and delivery.

Host: Mark (Intrinsyc)
My name is Mark Janke. I am the Field Applications Mgr at Intrinsyc.

Host: Joseph (Microsoft)
This is Joseph Lee, Program Mgr for Windows CE networking team. My focus areas are wireless technologies and network drivers

Host: Deepika (Microsoft)
My name is Deepika Arora. I am a Program Manager in the Windows CE Networking team, focusing on Real Time Communications, Messenger, LDAP, VPN/PPTP.

Host: David (Microsoft)
Hi I'm David Campbell, Lead Program Manager for Windows CE Networking (and related services).

Moderator: Mike (Microsoft)
Welcome everyone, let’s get started!

Host: David (Microsoft)
Q: I know RTC API will be available in CE 4.2 ---- when will you make it available to previous versions of CE OS?

A: We've actually had the RTC APIs available as of CE version 4.0.

Host: Deepika (Microsoft)
Q: So --- what is the difference in VOIP platform of CE 4.2 and previous versions?

A: Just the version of the client APIs. Version 1.0 is supported in Windows CE version 4.0. Another difference is that in CE 4.0, we provided the RTC client APIs, a sample app called voipdemo and the Messenger app. In CE 4.2, we are providing a config focused on IP Phones. This includes middleware APIs and a Phone app (with UI).

Host: Deepika (Microsoft)
Q: Anything new in terms of client API functionalities that was not available in 1.0

A: We added support for call control (transfer, forward, hold). Also, there is interop with the updated desktop RTC client, and with the RTC beta server.

Host: Kurt (Intrinsyc)
Q: Does CE .NET 4.2 provide SNTP server feature?

A: CE .NET 4.2 supports both SNTP client and server.

Host: Deepika (Microsoft)
Q: From my investigation, it seems that RTC is a COM library --- is there any plan to integrate to the .NET Foundation Class Library?

A: We will look into it.

Host: Mark (Intrinsyc)
Q: What PDAs are available for with Pocket PC 2003 and CE 4.2 in the market?

A: Not sure of what major brands will support PPC 2003. Intrinsyc has a PDA development Platform that will (very shortly) support CE 4.2.

Host: Joseph (Microsoft)
Q: A recent MS presentation about PocketPC 2003 outlined better TCP/IP and RAS support for CDMA and GPRS - suspend/resume and CDMA dormant mode....Is this part of CE .NET 4.2?

A: The TCP/IP stack for Windows CE was improved for better handling of wireless characteristics. CDMA is not natively supported in Windows CE 4.2. But ISVs can provide 3rd party solutions using the networking framework provided in Windows CE 4.2 Platform Builder

Host: Kurt (Intrinsyc)
Q: IPv6 is in CE.NET. When do you think it will be wisely used?

A: IPv6 is still emerging technology in a practical sense. It's inclusion in CE.NET is vital to allow CE to bring the necessary toolset to developers to allow them to build platform-agnostic software. As the global pool of IPv4 addresses shrinks, the necessity of IPv6 use will inevitably grow.

Host: Deepika (Microsoft)
Q: Does the .NET Compact framework allows access to SIP Resquest/Response/Transaction and lower layer APIs --- as well as SDP API

A: You can put a managed code wrapper just like you can on anything. We are investigating providing managed APIs for various networking components in future versions.

Host: Deepika (Microsoft)
Q: Is there any plan to migrate the RTC COM library to .NET CF? If so when?

A: This is planned, but we haven't announced any specific timeframes at this time.

Host: Deepika (Microsoft)
Q: You talked about RTCdemo for PDA platform --- where can I find the source code?

A: If you're referring to voipdemo, the source is available in samples with Win CE 4.0 and above.

Host: Ming (Intrinsyc)
Q: Is the SIP stack in CE 4.0 and above RFC 2543 compatible or 3260 compatible?

A: RFC 2543. https://msdn2.microsoft.com/library/ms906828.aspx

Host: Kurt (Intrinsyc)
Q: Do you have links to any information on IR support from CE .NET?

A: Infrared Sockets for network communications are supported under both winsock 1.1 and 2.0.

Moderator: Mike (Microsoft)
Q: Any web link to RTCdemo?

A: The sample ships with the product. We're not aware of any URL for it.

Host: Deepika (Microsoft)
Q: Is there any provision through the RTC API to choose the codec to be used in SDP negotiation?

A: Yes, even as of CE version 4.0, we provide a pluggable codecs interface. You have to put an ACM wrapper around your codec, and you can plug it in. You can find details in the docs.

Host: Joseph (Microsoft)
Q: Are bluetooth drivers available for CE .NET 4.2?

A: Yes we have Bluetooth transport drivers for USB, UART and PCMCIA, as well as a couple of vendor specific drivers.

Host: David (Microsoft)
Q: Do you guys know who the OEM was for the VOIP phone demo at ESC-West?

A: There were several OEMs who worked with us, but beyond what was released in the press releases we can't really comment on who we're working with because of NDAs.

Editor note:

For a complete list of publicly announced ODMs/OEMs, please see:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2003/apr03/04-02comprehensivevoippr.aspx

Host: Deepika (Microsoft)
Q: Do you guys know who the OEM was for the VOIP phone demo at ESC-West?

A: The screen phone was from Samsung. The 2 line phone was from Broadcom.

Host: Deepika (Microsoft)
Q: Do you provide access to SIP Request/Response/Transaction Layer objects as well as Dialog objects?

A: Not directly. The RTC Client APIs abstract it - so you can create sessions, add participants, send text messages etc.

Host: Ming (Intrinsyc)
Q: Is the CDMA stack on CE .NET 4.2? If so, what version?

A: No, but Independent hardware vendors (IHVs) can create networking drivers using Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS) 5.1 and NDIS test tools — for example 802.11, Bluetooth, GPRS, CDMA, and Ethernet.

Host: David (Microsoft)
Q: What companies will be supporting CE platform on their "cellphone" --- are Nokia, Sprint etc. on board with CE platform?

A: Again, unfortunately, NDAs would prevent us from commenting on partners that we’re working with. Sorry.

Host: Mark (Intrinsyc)
Q: Sorry to keep bugging you guys...do you have any links for bluetooth development (over SDIO)?

A: See:

https://msdn2.microsoft.com/library/ms921762.aspx

This provides an overview of Microsoft Bluetooth support. Also, see:

https://www.bluetooth.org/

Moderator: Mike (Microsoft)
Q: Is there any difference in coding using .NET CF between PDAs and smart phones?

A: In theory, the answer will be no, unless there are specific bits of functionality exposed for the SmartPhone platform. But I don't believe that the Compact Framework supports SmartPhone development at this time. I think that's a "next version" type of thing.

Host: Deepika (Microsoft)
Q: If we needed a lower layer API or a nice interface like RTC for those objects (Request/Response/Trnsaction/Dialog) --- how can we accomplish that?

A: We may look at providing that in a future version.

Host: Mark (Intrinsyc)
Q: Does Windows CE .NET support a Bluetooth printer profile?

A: Not currently, may be supported in the future. Which profile is of interest (BPP or HCRP)?

Host: Joseph (Microsoft)
Q: Mark_Intrinsyc: Which profile is of interest (BPP or HCRP)? Quite honestly, we're undecided at this time.

A: If you want to know more about the profiles you can visit www.bluetooth.com to get the spec.

Host: Deepika (Microsoft)
Q: Does RTC support multi-party sessions --- if not when will the support be available

A: We support multi party IM in CE 4.2. We are investigating multi party VoIP for a future version.

Host: Deepika (Microsoft)
Q: When will you move to RFC 3261 compatibility --- very important for us.

A: We are not completely compliant with 3261 today, but will be moving in that direction in the future.

Host: Kurt (Intrinsyc)
Q: anyone else working with the ce .net web server?

A: Intrinsyc works extensively with embedded web servers and web connected products. Please check out our web site at https://www.intrinsyc.com.

Moderator: Mike (Microsoft)
Thanks for joining us today and thanks for the questions. A special thank you to all our Intrinsyc hosts today: Ming, Mark, Kurt, Deepika, David and Joseph. It's time for us to go now.

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