1. App-to-app communication
Sean McKenna
Program Manager, Windows Phone
3-044

2. What is app-to-app communication?

3. Custom URI Associations
Launch other apps to complete tasks
Call with Skype
Play an album on Spotify
Post a message on Twitter
Link your app into core experiences
Browser
Messaging

4. File Type Associations
Launch your files in the right app
Microsoft Office
Adobe Reader
Handle custom files in your app
Browser
Office Hub

5. Opening an Office document
Demo

6. Guiding Principles User is always in control
Apps cannot take over an extension
The list of installed apps is private user data
Apps cannot query installed apps, protocols, file extensions
Standard tasks should be simple and predictable
Standard types are handled by built-in experiences

7. One Handler
Launch URI: skype:call?

8. No handlers

9. 2+ Handlers

10. Launching a game from SMS
Demo

11. A Look Under the Hood Data Sharing Service Execution Manager
Create file
brokering token
Redeem token
for file
Source App
Execution Manager
Target App
Launch by file:
Floorplan.pdf
TokenID = 1234
Launch target
with token
Get handlers for ‘.pdf’
Package Manager

12. File Type Icons Surfaced in Email, Browser, Office Hub
WXGA Recommended
Small: 33px
Medium: 69px
Large: 176px

13. Handling a custom file type
Demo

14. App Launching via Proximity
Target apps
Your app can be launched based on a URI sent from another device
Handler code is exactly the same
Proximity capability is not required
Source apps
You can launch apps on other devices using the Proximity APIs

15. Launching via proximity
Demo

16. THANK YOU!
Sean McKenna