DeepakG[MS]: Good afternoon friends

DeepakG[MS]: Today we have with us Vinod Kumar and Shivani Maheswari Microsoft MVPs and WebMasters www.dotnetforce.com

DeepakG[MS]: they'll discuss how we can use MMIT Advance Mobile Controls to build sophisticated Mobile Web Application

DeepakG[MS]: Over to you Vinod and Shivani

Vinod_MVP: Hello friends, let me take this opportunity to welcome one 'n' all and would like to start this session with the need for developing Mobile Application…

Vinod_MVP: we all are aware of the fact that the Mobile Internet applications will be an integral part of enterprise and consumer mobile solutions in the coming years. The Gartner Group predicts that by 2004,65 percent of the Global 2000 companies will have the wire

Vinod_MVP: e-mails and other enterprise mobile solutions. With these trends and the broad interest in mobile solutions that are seen in the market,

Vinod_MVP: it becomes necessary that as a developer we need to start learning these technologies.

Vinod_MVP: The mobile Internet industry is new and fragmented, and as we are aware of, a number of challenges and considerations exist, such as multiple carriers, wireless protocol,

Vinod_MVP: and device types. With these considerations, implementing broad-reaching mobile solutions that functions as desired across multiple devices is often very difficult.

Vinod_MVP: Now Let me introduce the Co-Host of the show Shivani Maheswari,

Vinod_MVP: she will explain in brief what is MMIT and How the Advance Mobile controls that are bundled with MMIT can be used to build Mobile Web Applications.

Vinod_MVP: over to u Shivani

Shivani_MVP: Thanks Vinod and Deepak ...

Shivani_MVP: Good evening all

Shivani_MVP: The Mobile Internet Toolkit is a solid platform for the delivery of mobile Internet solutions

Shivani_MVP: The rapid delivery of mobile Internet applications targeted to multiple device types is a significant advantage over other mobile solutions.

Shivani_MVP: By using Mobile Web Forms and Mobile Controls, you can rapidly implement applications.

Shivani_MVP: integration of the Mobile Internet Toolkit, the Mobile Designer, and VS.NET provides a solid platform for the development, testing, and deployment of mobile Internet applications.

Shivani_MVP: Extensibility is a significant consideration when implementing mobile Internet solutions.

Shivani_MVP: The Mobile Internet Toolkit has the ability to be extended with new device adaptors and custom controls enabling the support of current specialized devices and future device support.

Shivani_MVP: Mobile Internet Toolkit is expected to grow with the mobile Internet industry.

Shivani_MVP: While Mobile Internet Toolkit comes with all the basic control to develop wireless application, it also comes with some advanced control for developing extensive wireless applications keeping in mind the current scenario's like Mobile Shopping, Booking of Cinema Ticket, Checking Bank Account and accessing other banking features from Mobile.

Shivani_MVP: The respective application are in the scenario as

Shivani_MVP: Access legacy data (CRM, ERP, Sales, etc.)

Shivani_MVP: Mobile Commerce (tickets, flowers, travel)

Shivani_MVP: Mobile Content (sports, weather)

Shivani_MVP: Quick Access to information (phone book)

Shivani_MVP: and the medical application as such monitoring servers and others

Shivani_MVP: Here we briefly introduce you to the advance control in short by showing a live demo as we have hosted on our site (www.dotnetforce.com)…

Shivani_MVP: I will provide u with the link to check those examples

Shivani_MVP: while a brief about a few controls

Shivani_MVP: Here I will be giving a brief about a few controls

Shivani_MVP: which are core to MMIT

Shivani_MVP: The PhoneCall control is unique to the mobile Web Forms controls and enables call capable devices to drop their data connection and dial the phone, similar to clicking on a mailto: on a web page to launch your email client.

Shivani_MVP: One example of where this control is useful is within an application that has a company directory as part of its functionality. Users can search for a name of a person they need to contact, get a list of potential matches back, and choose to dial the number

Shivani_MVP: of the one they want to.

Shivani_MVP: http://www.dotnetforce.com/mobilesite/Call.aspx

Shivani_MVP: i will be giving u a few links to have a look for the same

Shivani_MVP: Sample TextView Application: http://www.dotnetforce.com/mobilesite/TextView.aspx

Shivani_MVP: Sample Calendar Application: http://www.dotnetforce.com/mobilesite/Calendar.aspx

Shivani_MVP: The two main control for which litte introduction required is SelectionList and ObjectList

Shivani_MVP: SelectionList This control is similar to be WebForm's Cousin DataList control. This control allows the user to select an item from a list, which can be a drop-down, selection list, or radio button-type functionality but will display differently

Shivani_MVP: depending on the target device

Shivani_MVP: http://www.dotnetforce.com/mobilesite/SelectionList.aspx

Shivani_MVP: ObjectList Controls provides a feature-rich view of a list of data objects and is similar to the DataGrid control available in ASP.NET server controls.

Shivani_MVP: There are a few complex examples which we work out with ObjectList

Shivani_MVP: ObjectList Samples: http://www.dotnetforce.com/mobilesite/OLSimple.aspx, http://www.dotnetforce.com/mobilesite/OLDatBind.aspx, http://www.dotnetforce.com/mobilesite/OLTemplate.aspx

Vinod_MVP: Here I would like to mention that the sample OLTemplat.aspx is a MobileWebForm which uses the Stylsheet

Vinod_MVP: and ObjectList control to render Content depending upon the client browsers

Vinod_MVP: this OLTemplate.aspx page display totally different out put depending upon the deevices

DeepakG[MS]: (Gnanasekaran) I want to tie the phonecall object to the phone # data item on the details screen. How to go for that.

Vinod_MVP: Its simple ya place a phoneCall control using the design view in Ur GUI. Bind the Phone Number field to the value with the Phone Number u fetch from the database. It will be something like String strPNo=""; strPNo = myReader["TheatreCallNo"].ToString(

Vinod_MVP: code is

Vinod_MVP: String strPNo=""; strPNo = myReader["TheatreCallNo"].ToString(); PhoneCall1.PhoneNumber = strPNo;

Shivani_MVP: u have a phonecall control placed in ur UI code

Shivani_MVP: just bind the phone number with the same having PhoneNumber property

DeepakG[MS]: (netGURU) what is the major difference between List control and SelectionList control?

Vinod_MVP: The difference between SelectionList Control and List Control is that SelectionList control is used exclusively to represent selection in a form, and requires another control, such as a Command control, to submit the selection while

Vinod_MVP: while List control is used to List the content in the Form as well.

DeepakG[MS]: (netGURU) what is the different between selectionList and ObjectList?

Vinod_MVP: If u had read the introduction given my shivani she would have mentioned it in the Objectlist ..

Vinod_MVP: ObjectList is similar to List and Mobile SelectionList controls but has couple of difference The Mobile List control can only deliver one field of information for the client to display at a time, but ObjectList control can display multiple fields like a

Vinod_MVP: multiple fields like a table based on the targeted device's capability. Secondly, unlike the list controls, we cannot add static data to an ObjectList controls using an Add () method -

Vinod_MVP: The ObjectList Control is strictly data bound. The only way to add items to an object list in a control is by binding the list to a data source.

DeepakG[MS]: (Gnanasekara) Mr Vinod....Is it possible to access the calling number of a mobile phone e.g. rather than the user keying in name password combination I would prefer to use the mobile tel# as the name

Vinod_MVP: I think its possible to capture the same although there is a lot other details about the Mobile Phone can be captured using Mobile Device Capabilities class. MMIT is server side tech. While its possible to do the same using .Net Compact Framework as that

Vinod_MVP: s a client side tech so may be helpful for ur purpose

DeepakG[MS]: (Kumar) Any pointers in context of extensibility of the kit ?

Vinod_MVP: Pls be more clear..

DeepakG[MS]: (Kumar)Yes.. how extensible is the kit when targeting possibly new devices that may come up in the future?

Vinod_MVP: One of the features of MMIT is the ability to support new devices. This includes both new devices that do not differ significantly from exisiting devices, as well as those that offer dramatic new features.

Vinod_MVP: The first option for enabling a new device is to add an entry for it to the configuration to use an existing device adapter set.

Vinod_MVP: Second one is more complicated . It involves providing new adapters for the mobile controls in order to take advantage of new features of the devices.

Vinod_MVP: As new devices come to market , third parties may supply adapters that provide this extending functionality..

DeepakG[MS]: (Gnanasekaran) Hi Shivani.......What is the difference between a Mobile WebForm and a WebForm?

Vinod_MVP: Hi gnanashekar i will answer

Vinod_MVP: The major difference between a Mobile WebForm and WebForm is that ..

Vinod_MVP: WebForm always render HTML OutPut but Mobile Form Renders Out put depending upon the Client device

Vinod_MVP: and also in Mobile WebForm we can use Multiple Forms which is not possible in a WebForm..

Shivani_MVP: This has been an important point as perspective to Mobile application

Shivani_MVP: as to the wireless client usually have to place info faster

Shivani_MVP: and there is a round the way connection so better to place info in a single page

Shivani_MVP: we can better divide in different forms

Shivani_MVP: as per the application usage ..

Shivani_MVP: In the mean till the question comes

Shivani_MVP: i will just have a brief on Custom controls

Shivani_MVP: as one of my favorites in MMIT ..

Shivani_MVP: In addition to the built-in Mobile Controls that come with the Mobile Internet Toolkit, you can also create custom controls for use within your Mobile Internet Toolkit application.

Shivani_MVP: These can be Mobile User Controls, which look like any Mobile Web Form element, or they can be Mobile Custom Controls allowing you to define and customize content in some way.

Shivani_MVP: Mobile User Controls involve creating an ASCX file containing any combination of mobile controls and content.

Shivani_MVP: You can use these Mobile User Controls within the application in the same way as regular mobile controls.

Shivani_MVP: As custom Mobile User Controls are based on regular Mobile Controls, the existing device adaptors are used for rendering content to mobile devices.

Shivani_MVP: The other types of custom controls are the Mobile Custom Controls. These type of controls are written and compiled separately, can be written with any CLR language, and provide the maximum flexibility.

Shivani_MVP: I have an interesting scenario of using Custom Control

Shivani_MVP: Let A corporation with many Web sites wants them all to have the same look and feel

Shivani_MVP: By bundling all of their corporate styles and device specific customizations into a single User control,

Shivani_MVP: the company can implement an easily-maintainable

Shivani_MVP: enterprise-wide look and feel by then using this User control in each of their Web sites.

Shivani_MVP: There are examples of Custom Control been hosted at our site

DeepakG[MS]: (MrBell) Is it possible to access the web service from Mobile device?

Vinod_MVP: Yes its possible...

Shivani_MVP: Ya its very well possible to access Web Service with Mobile device

Shivani_MVP: indeed we can bind the output of web service to Mobile controls the same way

Shivani_MVP: just need to be more careful while designing that application have a proper look and feel on mobile device.

DeepakG[MS]: Ok firends.. thanks for joining us for this chat...

DeepakG[MS]: before you leave - important reminder..

DeepakG[MS]: next week's chat is on upcoming Windows.NET Server...

DeepakG[MS]: we have Shivaram Venkatesh - who works as a technical specialist at Microsoft India, sharing with you what is new in Windows.NET Server series

DeepakG[MS]: next week's chat will be on Friday from 4:00 - 5:00 PM

DeepakG[MS]: and before we go - a BIG Thanks to Shivani and Vinod...

DeepakG[MS]: especially Shivani for taking time out - since her office firewall blocks the IRC port, she has had to do this chat from a cyber cafe!

Shivani_MVP: Thanks all

Shivani_MVP: its been interesting here and i hope to see u all further working with MMIT ..

Vinod_MVP: You can find the sample application we discussed in this session in www.dotnetforce.com/mobilesite/demo.aspx

Vinod_MVP: Thanks.. and bye u can mail your query to info@dotnetforce.com