Patent ID: 8745153

Claim:
A computer implemented method for downloading application programs to a hand-held computing device from an on-line application repository, said method comprising: providing access to a plurality of application programs via the on-line application repository; receiving a download request for download of a selected application program from the application programs available from the on-line application repository; subsequently retrieving a device type for the hand-held computing device; determining whether the device type is one of one or more supported device types for the selected application program; permitting download of the selected application program to the hand-held computing device if it is determined that the device type is one of the one or more supported device types for the selected application program; denying download of the selected application program to the hand-held computing device if it is determined that the device type is not one of the one or more supported device types for the selected application program; receiving a request for installation of the selected application program to be installed on the hand-held computing device; determining whether the hand-held computing device meets the associated device requirement of the selected application program; and providing at least one control for installation of the selected application program on the hand-held computing device if it is determined the hand-held computing device meets the associated device requirement of the selected application program, wherein the providing of access and the receiving of the download request are performed without regard for whether the hand-held computing device is a supported device for any of the application programs.