TAPI Application Development (Windows Embedded CE 6.0)

1/6/2010

Windows Embedded CE supports a subset of the Microsoft Telephony API (TAPI) 2.0 and some parts of TAPI 2.1. TAPI is a set of APIs that simplify and abstract the details of making telephony connections between two or more devices. TAPI abstracts call-control functionality to allow different, and seemingly incompatible, communication protocols to expose a common interface to applications through its support of telephony service providers (TSPs).

Windows Embedded CE ships with one TSP, the Unimodem service provider, which supports AT-command-based modems. Windows Embedded CE supports installable service providers, which enables independent software vendors (ISVs), original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and independent hardware vendors (IHVs) to add additional TSPs under TAPI — for example VoIP, such as H323 and session initiation protocol (SIP), Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), cell phones, and so on.

Windows Embedded CE, through the addition of TAPI 2.0, brings inbound call support for both data and voice. Supplementary services (call forward, hold, park, conferencing, and so forth) and support for multiple calls are added also. In addition, support for call-center management is enhanced, with modeling of predictive dialing ports and queues, associating data with calls, controlling message waiting lights, and controlling music on hold and centralized event timing. Furthermore, application message notification is improved significantly in TAPI 2.0. As with previous versions of TAPI, the availability of this functionality depends upon the underlying TSP and hardware.

You can use TAPI 2.0 to bring telephony functionality to any Windows Embedded CE–based application, such as a database manager, spreadsheet, word processor, personal information manager, or any other application that can benefit by sending and receiving data through the telephone network.

TAPI 2.0 provides a set of tools for incorporating this functionality into your application:

• Connect directly to the telephone network, instead of relying on a separate communications application.
• Dial telephone numbers automatically.

With TAPI 2.0, a user can make a telephone call through a Windows Embedded CE–based device, set up a conference call, or connect to a remote host computer to download data at predetermined times. TAPI applications also can determine whether or not the mobile terminal supports advanced functionality, such as call waiting or faxing.

The Windows Embedded CE implementation of TAPI 2.0 supports a set of APIs that let you create various types of applications that implement telephony functionality. Windows Embedded CE also supports the TAPI telephone device API set.

The Tapi.dll library file exports all of the TAPI functions that can be used to create TAPI applications. TAPI function prototypes, as well as TAPI structures, are defined in the Tapi.h header file.

In This Section

• Line Device
  Describes TAPI support for line devices.

• Establishing a Modem Connection
  Provides information about establishing a modem connection.

• Telephony Service Provider Interface
  Provides information on the TSPI which is responsible for managing the data from TAPI to control line devices and telephone devices.

• General Architecture of TAPI 2.0
  Describes the TAPI 2.0 architecture.

• Phone Device
  Describes the elements of a telephone device.

Related Sections

• TAPI Registry Settings
  Provides a list of the configurable registry settings for TAPI.

• TAPI Security
  Provides security-related information for TAPI.

• TAPI Migration

• TAPI Samples
  Provides sample-related information for TAPI.

• TAPI Reference
  Provides information on programming elements available for TAPI.

• TSPI Reference
  Provides information on programming elements available for TSPI.

• Unimodem Registry Settings
  Provides a list of the configurable registry settings for Unimodem.

• TAPI OS Design Development
  Provides information about TAPI this is helpful when designing and developing a Windows Embedded CE operating system.

• Unimodem OS Design Development
  Provides information about Unimodem this is helpful when designing and developing a Windows Embedded CE operating system.

See Also

Concepts

General Architecture of TAPI 2.0
Line Device
Phone Device
Establishing a Modem Connection
Telephony Service Provider Interface
TAPI Registry Settings

Other Resources

Telephony API