Windows Mobile: Platform

Overview
Categories of Windows Mobile
Platforms Based on Hardware
• Pocket PC
– OS: Windows Mobile
• Smart Phone
– OS: Windows Mobile Customized for
Smart Phones
• Embedded or Custom Hardware
– OS: Windows CE
Differences Between Mobile
Platforms
Platform Windows Mobile 6 Classic Windows Windows CE
s and Professional Mobile 6
Touch Yes Standard
No Decision of OEM
Screen
Keypad No Keyboard Phone Keypad, or Decision of OEM
Or QWERTY Keyboard QWERTY
keyboard
Telephon Yes for Pocket PC Phone Yes Custom
e Edition
Capability
Operating Windows Mobile 6 Classic Windows Mobile Windows CE 5.0
System Windows Mobile 6 6 Standard Windows
Professional Embedded CE
Hardware Pocket PCs Smart Phones 5.0
For Custom
Hardware
Windows CE vs. Windows
Mobile
• Windows CE
– A Modular Operating System
– Completely Adaptable to Build
Customized Operating System for a
Hardware Platform
– Platform Builder is the Tool Used to Pick
Modules of Windows CE Required for a
Particular Hardware
Windows Mobile vs. Windows
CE
• Windows Mobile
– Ensures Look & Feel Consistency Across
Devices
– Built Using Windows CE
– Additional Features
• Pocket PC or Smart Phone Shell for UI & User
Input
• Word, Excel, IE etc.
Microsoft .Net Architecture
Microsoft .Net Compact
Framework

• .Net CF is for Mobile

Devices
• .Net Compact
Framework is Subset
of Full .Net
• Very Small Footprint
(4MB for v2.0)
• Feature that are Not
Included in the
Compact Framework
are Shaded
Default Threads in .Net CF
Applications
• Primary Thread of the Application
• A Thread to Track Active TCP/IP
Interfaces
• A Thread to Call finalizers at the Time
of Garbage Collection
• A Thread to Control Timers
Data Storage Options

• SQL Server Compact Edition (SQL

Server CE)
– Lightweight Relational Database
• Datasets have Built-in Capability to
Store Data in File in XML Format
• XML Based Objects Serialization
– Persist Public Properties of an Object in
File
Typical Configuration of a
Device Running Windows
Mobile 6.0
Messaging and Events

• Message Pump:
– Every Application has a Message Pump
where All Messages Related to that
Application are Delivered by the System
Compact CLR Engine—
Performance Considerations
• Intermediate Compilation
– VB.Net and C#.Net are Compiled to Intermediate
Language (IL)
– IL is Translated into Native Executable Code at Runtime
– Generally in Desktop Applications, Once Generated,
Native Code is Reused in Each Function Call During App
Life Cycle
• In Mobile Devices, Code Pitching May Occur
• Code Pitching means Throwing Away the Compiled Native
Code Because of Some Reasons; for instance, Severe
Memory Constraints
• Limited Support for Method Inlining
Compact CLR Engine—
Performance Considerations
• Memory Allocation for Managed Code is Quick Because
System Pre-Allocates Memory on Heap in Chunks and
Assign it to Requesting Processes
• Garbage Collection is Done in a Separate Thread and May
Occur in Following Cases for Instance:
– A cumulative 1 MB of heap data has been allocated since the
last collection
– Explicitly Calling GC.Collect.
– Application is Moved to Background
– Failure to Allocate Memory for a Managed Object Occurs
– Simple Collection
• Identify Dead Objects and Make Space Available
– Compact Collection
• Movement of Live Objects to Contagious Block and Cleanup Unused
Objects
 Security Policies and Code
Signing
• Smartphones Support 1 or 2 Tier
Security Model
• Pocket PCs Support 1 Tier Security
Model
Authentication Two-Tier Security One-Tier Security
Level (Most Smartphones) (Pocket PCs)
Signed with a Application may access privileged and Application may access privileged and
Privileged normal APIs and registry keys normal APIs and registry keys
Certificate
Signed with an Application may not access privileged Application may access privileged and
Unprivileged APIs and certain registry locations normal APIs and registry keys
Certificate
Unsigned Application may be prevented from Application may be prevented from
running running
Device to Desktop
Communications
• Microsoft ActiveSync
• Windows Mobile Device Center for
Vista
Tools and Technologies

• Microsoft Visual Studio

• Windows Mobile 5.0 SDK for Pocket
PC
• Windows Mobile 5.0 SDK for
Smartphone
Mobile2Market Application
Certification
• Microsoft certification and marketing program for
mobile applications
• Steps
– Certifying the Application. 'Designed for Windows Mobile
Version 6' certification is more rigorous than previous
versions
– Certification is required for participation in Microsoft
promotional activities, including the Certified Software
Catalog,
– Certification is a prerequisite for many mobile operator
and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) programs.
– Distribution partners also offer special promotions for
"Designed for Windows Mobile" logo-certified
applications.
References

• Microsoft Mobile Development

Handbook by Andy Wigley, Daniel
MothandPeter