Push installation

Push installation means that the server sends a message to the device(s) by SMS or WAP, instructing the user to click a unique link to the software. Clicking the link (within a set amount of time) causes a specific DME client to be downloaded to the device, and the installation is initiated. The link is only valid for the amount of time specified in the field Software push, ticket lifetime in the Client section of the Server configuration panel (see Client).

After a series of prompts, the DME client is installed on the device.

Whether you should choose WAP or SMS push depends on the device. A WAP push just requires one click to get the DME client download started, but is not supported by all devices (notably many WM devices). Also, Symbian devices tend to attempt to use a WAP access point for downloading the client after a WAP push (which will not succeed). On the other hand, Java devices do not support SMS push. The recommendation, then, is to use WAP for Java devices only, and SMS push for all other devices that support push installation.

Compared with installation by OMA DM, there are some drawbacks to using the push method:

  1. It is possible to send the wrong client to the user. By human error, you may for instance send a PocketPC client to a Smartphone device. The OMA DM bootstrap ensures that DME installs the correct client on the device.
  2. You have to know the device type and OS before being able to push an appropriate client to a new device. Again, the bootstrap secures this.
  3. The user must accept a number of prompts. Even though DME seeks to minimize the number of prompts required, each platform has different requirements when installing applications. The built-in DM engine, on the other hand, usually has sufficient rights to install the DME application without prompts.
  4. You can only see that the installation has succeeded when the user actually makes a connection with DME. With the OMA DM installation method, DME keeps track of the entire installation process, which can be monitored in the Status panel in the Software page of the Provisioning tab (see Status).

DME Push installation applies to:

Next topic

OMA DM installation