Extending .NET Applications to BlackBerry Smartphones

Enable your Microsoft® .NET applications for the BlackBerry® platform using the comprehensive selection of information and development resources described below.

• Using Microsoft Visual Studio
• BlackBerry MDS Studio and .NET Web Services
• Using the BlackBerry Java Development Environment to Connect to .NET Applications
• BlackBerry Partner Solutions

If you have any questions about .NET for the BlackBerry solution, please email asp.net@blackberry.com.

Using Microsoft Visual Studio

Microsoft Visual Studio® has three great options for building applications for BlackBerry smartphones:

1. BlackBerry Browser Based Solutions
   Using the BlackBerry® Browser, you can design websites that leverage the unique, secure, fast and efficient BlackBerry infrastructure. Use your existing ASP .NET web development skills to extend web applications from the desktop to the BlackBerry smartphone and take advantage of the BlackBerry Browser's unique features:
   
   
   • Offline Forms Queuing
   • Web Feed Support (RSS)
   • Bookmark Auto Sync
   • Home Screen Bookmarks
   • Push-based Alerts and Content Distribution
   
   

   Get more information on the BlackBerry Browser's unique features:

   • View the Content Developer Guide
   • Download the Optimizing Content for the BlackBerry Browser PDF (PDF)
   
   
2. ASP.NET Mobile Controls and ASP.NET 2.0 Adapter Architecture
   Using ASP .NET Mobile Controls, you can include BlackBerry smartphones in your existing mobile strategy.
   
   
   • .NET 1.1 - Use the ASP .NET Device Profiling Tool to Create BlackBerry device profiles
   • .NET 2.0 - How To - Configure .NET 2.0 for BlackBerry Browser support
     
   • .NET Development for BlackBerry Webcast
   
   
3. BlackBerry Plug-in for Microsoft Visual Studio
   The BlackBerry Plug-in for Microsoft Visual Studio provides Microsoft Visual Studio developers with the ability to create BlackBerry® MDS Runtime applications that interact with Web Services right from the Microsoft Visual Studio development environment.

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BlackBerry MDS Studio and .NET Web Services

Use BlackBerry MDS Studio, the powerful visual application design and assembly tool, to quickly create rich-client applications that interact with .NET Web Services using a component drag and drop approach.

• BlackBerry MDS Studio Flash Demo
• Web Services for BlackBerry MDS Studio Webcast
• Building a Measurement Conversion Web Service using .NET Developer Lab

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Using the BlackBerry Java Development Environment to Connect to .NET Applications

The BlackBerry® Java® Development Environment (BlackBerry JDE) is a fully integrated development environment and simulation tool that can be used to connect to .NET Applications.

• BlackBerry JDE Documentation
• BlackBerry JDE Developer Labs

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BlackBerry Partner Solutions

BlackBerry Alliance Partners offer a large number of third party applications and services for the BlackBerry solution. Leverage everything from out-of-the-box solutions that integrate with SAP® to middleware solutions and consulting services. Get a complete list of applications from BlackBerry Alliance Members

• Flowfinity BlackBird for Visual Studio 2005
  • ASP .NET solution for the BlackBerry platform
  • Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 to build rich-client applications for BlackBerry smartphones

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