Device Provisioning

Provisioning describes how to setup the device, so it can interact with the Unwired Platform environment. Device provisioning assumes that the user subscriber accounts have already been setup in Sybase Control Center.

Device provisioning is supported differently, depending on various mobility environment factors:

Method	Deployment	Device types	Unwired Platform components
Cradles with desktop device managers	Personal deployment ¹	Windows, Windows Mobile, and BlackBerry	For runtime clients (messaging/replication) and device applications.
Afaria Over-the-air (OTA)	Enterprise deployment in production environments	Windows, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry	For runtime clients (messaging/replication) and device applications. This type of provisioning is typically jointly performed by the administrator (back-end setup to OTA environment) and the device user (installation on the device) after the notification is received.
iTunes	Enterprise deployment with an Apple enterprise certificate	iPhone	For complete packaged iPhone applications that are distributed by businesses to internal users — especially when users do not have an App Store account.

Device provisioning includes:

Distributing and installing the platform infrastructure components. Devices that require provisioning of infrastructure components include:
- Afaria clients for Windows, Windows Mobile, and BlackBerry devices.
- Client runtime for messaging-based synchronization applications for Windows and Windows Mobile. No runtime is required for iOS.
Distributing and installing the device application that interacts with MBO packages that are deployed to the Unwired Server. For supported device types, administrators can use Afaria. For unsupported types (like iOS), administrators must review the device's user guide to see how application provisioning might occur.
If you are using a replication base synchronisation application, setting up the device for push synchronization.
If you are using a messaging-based synchronization package, registering the user devices using Sybase Control Center (each user then activates using the Sybase Settings application deployed in step 1).

Runtimes and Clients
In Unwired Platform there is a difference between runtime and clients.
Afaria Provisioning and Mobile Device Management
Afaria extends Unwired Platform functionality by providing additional device client management features for remote and mobile computing devices, including laptops, desktops, and handheld devices.
Apple Provisioning for iOS
Unlike the Afaria method of device provisioning, Apple provisioning is primarily performed by developers at the end of their development cycle, with some Sybase Control Center configuration performed by the administrator, and some device setup by the device user. Apple Push Notification Service (APNS) supports user notifications on iPhone devices.
BES and BIS Provisioning for BlackBerry
BlackBerry devices can be provisioned with BlackBerry servers in addition to the Afaria method.
Setting up Push Synchronization for Replication Synchronization Devices
If your device application requires push synchronization, you must configure the device for server-initiated synchronization.