Creating Trial Applications

Abstract

Today, most mobile software vendors maintain two versions of their application code, one for the trial version and another for purchase. The code base for the trial version typically includes some—but not all—of the functionality of the full version, as well as code that urges users to upgrade to the full version of the product. The Windows Phone 7 platform, however, eliminates the need for this practice thanks to the handy IsTrial method. The IsTrial method of the Microsoft. Phone. Marketplace. LicenseInformation class provides the functionality you need to create a trial version. Microsoft. Phone.Marketplace. LicenseInf ormation is a sealed class that contains the methods you&ll use to test your applications. You have already learned how to deploy applications to the Windows Phone Marketplace in Chapter 5; in this chapter, you will learn how to add a trial option to applications you deploy so that your potential customers have a chance to try your applications before they buy them. The IsTrial method determines whether an application is running under a trial or a full license, allowing you to limit your application based on the result that IsTrial returns.