Comments on: Is it Really That Hard to get .Net Framework 3.5 on Windows Mobile 6.5 Device?

By: Mike Temporale

Mike Temporale — Mon, 30 May 2011 01:57:32 +0000

Thanks SeekMocha, but… If you took the time to read my original post, you would have learned that I know how to install the .Net Compact Framework on devices. Heck, I help hundreds of customers do this every year. The problem and the focus of this post is the fact that it’s not available in the Marketplace on Windows Mobile devices and there is no reason for Microsoft to not put it there.

Yes, I know that developers can build their apps in such a way that it detects when it’s not installed and will go get it and install it.

Yes, I know that it can be installed via ActiveSync.

Yes, I know that there are plenty of third parties that have extracted the CAB files and placed them on their website.

None of that answers the question of why it isn’t in the Marketplace and why there isn’t a Microsoft site that it can downloaded from directly onto a mobile device. I want to get the file from someplace I can trust. Microsoft has missed the boat on this. They still haven’t figured it out – despite the fact that I know they have read this very post. But much like you they don’t understand why someone would want to do this directly from their mobile device.

By: SeekMocha

SeekMocha — Sun, 29 May 2011 02:06:52 +0000

When you download and install the massive .NET file, at the end of installation it tells you that the .net will be installed the next time you connect the phone to your computer. That connection must be performed using Microsoft Mobile Device Center, formerly known as Active Sync. As soon as you make the sync connection between your desktop computer and the phone via the Mobile Device Center, it immediately informs you that the .net is being installed.

So the steps are:
1. Download and install .net installer file on desktop.
2. Connect phone to computer and sync with Mobile Device Center. I use a USB cable – I suppose BlueTooth would work.

So, really, it’s not tremendously difficult – unless you do not have ActiveSync or Mobile Device Center.

By: Bubba

Bubba — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 04:39:43 +0000

This just adds to the reason that Microsoft will fail in the phone market. Android is destroying them in the market and I can’t wait to replace my 6.5 phone with an Android.

By: Mike Temporale

Mike Temporale — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 13:28:33 +0000

A lot of people are missing the point here. Kind of surprising…

@Syed – if you read my article, I’m wasn’t in front of my computer. AND, that’s only there if you download and install the MASSIVE desktop installer for developers. It doesn’t actually put it on your phone.

@lahu – what ROM are you talking about, a hacked ROM? Again, not important to the thousands of people running legit versions of their phone. It’s not in the ROM that ships with the phone, and it’s not in the marketplace. Answer me this, if I’m not at my computer and trying to install an app that requires .NET CF, how in the world do I flash my device with your ROM? ya….

By: lahu

lahu — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 08:02:36 +0000

NET CF 3.5.9 comes preinstalled in latest ROM 3.14

By: Syed Ali Muazzam

Syed Ali Muazzam — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 09:40:54 +0000

MS .NET C framework is here
search in your desktop c:/ drive the file name
NETCFv35.wm.armv4i.cab and run in your windows mobile.
ENJOY>

By: Mike Temporale

Mike Temporale — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 03:15:40 +0000

@Al – yes, there are plenty of third party sites that you can download it from. That’s not the point. Please read my comment above from Feb 5th @ 10:08pm.

By: Al

Al — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:35:13 +0000

some peeps are kind enough to extract the 33mib cab file into a 2.5mib file only, download it here, i just updated mine from there

http://forum.jayceooi.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=296

By: Kathleen Anderson

Kathleen Anderson — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:51:28 +0000

The Microsoft Forums for Windows Mobile have a section for the Windows Marketplace for Mobile and I posted this there: http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/marketplacewindowsmobile/thread/d3e36b9a-e002-475c-94bc-8a852ba21a76

Hopefully someone from Microsoft is watching the forums.

By: Mike Temporale

Mike Temporale — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:23:39 +0000

@Joe – those are some excellent considerations. WinMo7 is based off CE6 – at least that’s what is expected. While it is a different kernel, it’s certainly not a game changer when it comes to NetCF.

In terms of installation, it’s not difficult for you or me. But the average person is going to be concerned about downloading a 33MB file just to get the latest version of NetCF on their device. Making the CAB file available online would be considerably easier for most people. However, that still doesn’t explain why a 2 year old framework didn’t make it into the latest version of the ROM. More often than not, I don’t have my PC with me. Which makes installing this all but impossible.

OpnMarket is an excellent market place for Windows Mobile. I haven’t looked in that market place for the latest version of NetCF. However, you shouldn’t have to go to third party sites to get the latest version of a Microsoft product. I really prefer to download content directly from the source.

Which is the next question… Why isn’t this available on the Windows Market Place for Mobile? If anywhere, it should be there.