Virtual pre-installation of applications

摘要

A mobile communication device comprises a processor, a memory, a plurality of stub applications comprising updateable version numbers, and a widget stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor, configures the processor to: determine a plurality of the stub applications to present, present the stub applications on a display of the mobile communication device, and elicit, in response to selection of a first stub application, retrieval and installation of a first full application in place of the first stub application.

主权项

1. A method of installing a full application on a mobile communication device, comprising:
installing a stub application on the mobile communication device prior to installation of a full application on the mobile communication device, wherein the stub application comprises functionality that is independent from the functionality of the full application, a full application identifier associated with the full application, and an updateable version number associated with the full application, the full application being capable of at least limited functionality for a user responsive to the full application being installed on the mobile communication device; presenting the stub application as a virtual representation of the full application via an interactive thumbnail image in a graphical user interface of the mobile communication device, the interactive thumbnail image being associated with the full application, wherein the virtual representation presents the stub application in the graphical user interface without the stub application providing the at least limited functionality of the full application; responsive to receiving a user selection of the interactive thumbnail image, satisfying permissions for installing the full application with the at least limited functionality via use of the updateable version number and the full application identifier included in the stub application; and based on the satisfying permissions, replacing the stub application with the full application in response to user input received on the mobile communication device to update the updateable version number of the stub application.