Software application launching method and apparatus

A handheld computer, comprising:

• a housing;
• a display supported by the housing and configured to display
• images representative of computer program applications;
• a memory;
• a microprocessor coupled to the memory and the display and configured to run applications stored in the memory;
• a software application stored outside the handheld computer;
• a launching application stored in the memory and having an image on the display representative of the software application and the launching application prompting the installation of the software application when the launching application is run by selecting the image representative of the software application and the launching application running the software application after the software application has been installed by selection of the image representative of the software application.

A method of using an e-mail application in a wireless environment, comprising:

• providing an e-mail application not configured for use over a wireless connection on a handheld computer;
• providing a launching application on a handheld computer, the launching application displaying an icon on the handheld computer representative of the e-mail application;
• starting the launching application;
• modifying parameters of the handheld computer, by the launching application, so that the e-mail application is able to use a wireless connection;
• and
• running, automatically, the e-mail application.

A method of using an application on a handheld computer, comprising:

• providing an application not configured to run in a desired manner on the handheld computer;
• providing a launching application on the handheld computer, the launching application displaying an icon on the handheld computer representative of the application;
• starting the launching application;
• modifying parameters of the handheld computer, by the launching application, so that the application is able to run in a desired manner on the handheld computer;
• and
• running, automatically, the application.