Testing content on a Verizon Wireless handset

This section will describe how to take existing Flash Lite content and test it on a Verizon Wireless handset:

1. Download and install the Flash Lite 2.1 Update for Flash Professional 8.
2. Join the Adobe Mobile Developer Program.
3. Download and install the Flash Lite Publisher for BREW for Flash Professional 8.
4. Download and install the Qualcomm BREW SDK 3.1.5.
5. Register as a Qualcomm BREW developer.
6. Download and install the BREW tools suite.
7. Install the Flash Lite for BREW extensions on your target Verizon Wireless handset.
8. Generate a test .sig file for your BREW handset.
9. Transfer your Flash Lite content to your target handset.

Step 1: Download and install the Flash Lite 2.1 Update for Flash Professional 8. This update allows you to develop for Flash Lite 2.1, which is the Flash Lite version that is used by Verizon Wireless. When developing for BREW, target Flash Lite 2.1 in the Flash Lite publisher.

Step 2: Join the Adobe Mobile Developer Program. The Adobe Mobile Developer program is not only an invaluable resource for Flash Lite developers, but it is also a requirement for the next step.

Step 3: Download and install the Flash Lite Publisher for BREW for Flash Professional 8. The Flash Lite Publisher for BREW for Flash Professional 8 allows you to create either a screensaver or an application for BREW by publishing both a .mod and a .mif file from Flash (see Figure 1). The .mod file is essentially your .swf file packaged with a different extension. The .mif file contains configuration settings. Both of these files are required in order to test Flash Lite content on a BREW device. Additionally, you can publish the required files for the BREW Simulator—a .mif file and a .dll file. For the purposes of the BREW Simulator, the .dll file is essentially your .swf file packaged with a different extension.

Figure 1. Selecting Flash Lite for BREW from the Publisher

When the partnership between Adobe and Verizon Wireless was announced in October 2006, much of the focus was on developing Flash Lite screensavers for the content catalog partners. The screensaver option in the Flash Lite Publisher for BREW (see Figure 2) essentially allows developers to publish screensavers for Verizon Wireless phones. However, since the announcement of the partnership, hardware limitations have postponed this process. At the time of this articles publication, Flash Lite for BREW screensavers cannot be sold through the Verizon Wireless Get It Now store.

Figure 2. Selecting the Application radio button when publishing Flash Lite 2.1 for BREW content

Remaining is the application option in the Flash Lite Publisher for BREW. All content other than screensavers should be published as an application. Applications can run in full screen and essentially function like a stand-alone Flash Lite 2.1 .swf file.

Note that when creating Flash Lite content for a Verizon Wireless device, the red Verizon Wireless banner at the top of the device screen is a constant element that cannot be removed. This means that you should resize your content accordingly. For instance, if your are targeting the Motorola RAZR V3m, your movie would be 176 x 204 because the Verizon banner is 16 pixels tall and the Motorola RAZR V3m has a 176 x 220 screen size (see Figure 3).

Figure 3. Outputting the correct Stage size for the device you are targeting

Another quick tip is to always check the Do not show this Wizard on publish button. If you leave this button unchecked, the BREW Publisher Wizard will pop up every time you publish your Flash Lite for BREW movie (see Figure 4).

Figure 4. Checking the Do not show this Wizard on publish Publish button

Step 4: Download and install the Qualcomm BREW SDK 3.1.5. It is possible to test your content using the BREW Simulator that is bundled with the BREW SDK (https://brewx.qualcomm.com/brew/sdk/download.jsp?page=dx/3.1) but this is not recommend for three reasons. First, experience has shown us that the Flash 8 simulator is quite efficient for testing Flash Lite 2.1 content. Second, if you are developing content for Verizon Wireless, it is assumed that you will become an authorized BREW developer and gain access to the BREW AppLoader software. Third, the best practice that you can develop is to test on your target handset as often as possible.

If you are still interested in using the BREW Simulator, you should understand the following:

• The BREW Simulator uses the files published from the Flash Lite Publisher for BREW
• The default directory, C:\Program Files\BREW 3.1.5\sdk\examples\, will be the location where you copy the published .mif file
• You will need to create the directory for your application at C:\Program Files\BREW 3.1.5\sdk\examples\yourdirectory\
• Copy your published .dll file to C:\Program Files\BREW 3.1.5\sdk\examples\yourdirectory\
• The .mif, .dll, and directory must have the identically matching name, and the name must be lowercase and not include any special characters (see Figure 5)

Figure 5. helloworldtest.mif and the helloworldtest directory correctly named; helloworldtest.dll in the helloworldtest directory

If you are still interested in using the Qualcomm BREW SDK 3.1.5, you can learn more in the Qualcomm BREW forums.

Step 5: Register as a Qualcomm BREW developer. Refer to the previous section of this article. Registering as a Qualcomm BREW developer costs $400 annually and takes approximately five to eight business days. Registering as a Qualcomm BREW developer is a prerequisite for the following four steps.

Step 6: Download and install the BREW tools suite. The BREW tools suite is available for download. Once you install the BREW tools suite, you will have access to the BREW AppLoader. The BREW AppLoader is the software you will use to transfer your .mod, .mif, and .sig files to your target handset.

Step 7: Install the Flash Lite for BREW extension on your target Verizon Wireless handset. There are two ways to install the BREW extension on your target Verizon Wireless handset. The first and more difficult way is to log on to the BREW developer extranet, download the Flash Lite 2.1 extension, and transfer it to your phone using the Qualcomm AppLoader.

The second, and recommended, way to install the extension is to simply visit the Verizon Wireless Get It Now store on your mobile phone and purchase any Flash Lite content. The Flash Lite 2.1 for BREW extension will be installed automatically via an over-the-air download. This process will also give you the opportunity to see exactly how a consumer would purchase Flash Lite content through Verizon Wireless. Some of the Flash Lite titles available include Jungle Jim, The Office Games, and Shockwave Mini's. Please note that we are not affiliated in any way with the software titles mentioned in this article.

Step 8: Generate a test .sig file for your BREW handset. For each BREW device you want to test your BREW applications on, you will need to generate a test .sig file. This device-specific signature file can be generated using the web-based TestSig Generator on the Qualcomm BREW developer website.

Step 9: Transfer your Flash Lite content to your target handset. Before you transfer your files to your target handset you will need to make sure that the drivers are installed on your PC. The easiest way to ensure this is to install any phone tools from your phone's manufacturer. For example, with the Motorola RAZR V3m from Verizon Wireless, we installed the Motorola Phone Tools software and the device drives that came with that software.

After completing the previous eight steps and properly installing the device as hardware on your Windows machine, you are ready to transfer Flash Lite content to your target handset.

First, connect your device to your PC using a USB cable. Next, start the Qualcomm AppLoader software. A common problem at this stage is for the AppLoader to fail because it cannot connect to your device (see Figure 6). If this happens, the most common fix is to remove the device from the USB cable and to reattach it and try again. Additionally, if you are running your PC software on a Mac via Parallels and you are having trouble connecting your handset to Windows, you may want to read this Parallels.com forum post, Possibly a clean solution for "USB device in use" problem.

Figure 6. Qualcomm AppLoader showing a .dll error message if your handset is not properly connected

Once the AppLoader has initialized and your phone is connected properly, you will be ready to transfer files to your BREW device. When transferring files to your device, there are several very important things to remember:

• Your folder name and filenames must be all lowercase with no special characters other than an underscore
• Your folder name must match the name of your .mod, .mif, and .sig files
• Try to keep your filenames and folder name to as few characters as possible

The BREW AppLoader does not warn you if you fail to follow the guides above. Rather, when there is an error with the transferring of your content, you simply see nothing on your target device—as if you never transferred the content in the first place.

Once you transfer the files (see Figure 7 and 8), you will need to reset your handset using the AppLoader software. Resetting your handset will allow you to access your application via the Get Going section within the Get It Now menu on your Verizon Wireless handset.

Figure 7. Copying your applications .mif file to the brew/mif folder on your device

Figure 8. Creating a folder using your application name and drop your .mod and .sig file into it

Where to go from here

We have covered some of the pros and cons that should be considered when developing Flash Lite content for Verizon Wireless. You should now be able to determine what model of distributing content works best for you—either the direct model that requires you to cover your own upfront fees but potentially earn greater revenue, or the indirect model that allows you the simplicity of selling your content through a content catalog partner such at Atom Entertainment, FunMobility, or Smashing Ideas.

You can learn more by reading and participating in the two primary BREW forums online. The Adobe Flash Lite for BREW forum and the Qualcomm BREW forum will be able to answer many of your existing or future questions. Additional in-depth articles and tutorials about using Flash Lite are available at the Mobile and Devices Developer Center. We hope that this article has answered many of your Flash Lite for BREW development questions and sparked your interest in Flash Lite 2.1 for BREW development for Verizon Wireless.

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