Smaller screen
With little screen real estate, you need to trade off having the user navigate among multiple screens against trying to organize a lot of data on any single screen. Provide users with contextual information and the ability to retrace their steps so they don't get lost in your application.

Stylus input
End-users won't necessarily have any computer experience nor will they have mastered Graffiti, so keep things simple. Take advantage of graphical objects like drop lists, check boxes, and radio buttons to speed data entry. In many cases, your most likely competition will be a pencil and paper, so be sure your application is at least as quick and easy to use.

Occasional connectivity
Your application will have access to enterprise data only when users connect with the server. Anticipate the data they will need and how often they will connect to refresh their information. Trade this off against the memory constraints of the device. Also remember that your application may be used under less than the ideal conditions, not necessarily at a desk, with adequate light and help just a phone call away.

Next month, we'll look at building a simple forms-based application to write sales orders.

Jay Cohan manages business development at SoftMagic. Contact him at jcohan@softmagic.com.