Some questions about windows mobile for the experts?

[MrNorth]

Hi!

There maybe a chance that I and some colleagues can develop the Windows mobile edition in C# and some other team will do the symbian... which leads me to some more questions:

1) How can I make the application globalized, making the UI support different languages?

2) Can I initiate calls, put calls on standby, and redirect calls by C# code?

3) Can I develop "skins" that the user can change easily, e.g. branding of the user interface?

4) Is it possible to run the application in the backgrund, as service of some sort, for example polling a webservice, and then when something interesting happens alert the user by some kind of notify icon or something.

5) Can I for example determine when the user leaves his home network? For example when I travel to another country, I leave my "home" network. IS this kind of low level interaction possible?

kind regards
Henrik

[petevick]

Hi,
1) Look at 'cultureinfo' and keeping all your strings in resource files.
2) The microsoft.windowsmobile.telephony namespace allows you to make calls etc.
3) Again, you should be able to use resource files to store 'skin' images
4) Yes - you can write a 'formless' application
5) Using TAPI you can do things like this - there is a 3rd party managed code offering here (http://www.opennetcf.com/Products/TelephonyLibrary/tabid/134/Default.aspx)

With a bit of inenuity, you can do a lot of things in the Compact Framework, that at first seem impossible. May be worth investing in a book on the CF - the best one, in my opinion is Microsoft Mobile Development Handbook (http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft%C2%AE-Mobile-Development-Handbook-Wigley/dp/0735623589/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201868526&sr=8-1)

HTH

Pete

[MrNorth]

Thanks Pete!

Im fairly new on the Compact framework, but I have developed .NET apps for about 5 years now.

But I think I can manage it.

Oh, what options do I have of communicating with a service platform somewhere in the world? On GSM I have to rely on SMS, but when I have GPRS connection, can I use standard .NET webservices?

kind regards
Henrik

[petevick]

Hi,
yes - you should be able to use webservices - there are several CF examples around

Pete