What is the Application Lock?

It's a setting that was already applied to your Smartphone when you bought it. It prevents any software from running unless it has been digitally signed.

Note that the application lock is completely different from the SIM lock. If you want to SIM-unlock your Windows Smartphone, I suggest you try this link at MoDaCo, but be warned, there is as yet no way to network-unlock (SIM-unlock) an Orange SPV E200.

Why does Application Locking exist?

Well, it's easy enough to write a malicious Smartphone program that opens the phone line and dials (say) a number in Botswana. This, of course, would cost you a lot of money, unless you live in Botswana... By applying the application lock, network providers such as Orange can make sure that the only programs you can run on your Smartphone are those which have been approved and digitally signed.

Why isn't Flamethrower Carnage signed?

Simple - because getting your program signed costs real money. Since Flamethrower Carnage is a freeware project, there's no money available to get the code digitally signed. Anyone who wants a digitally-signed version is welcome to send me the money I'd need to get the application signed!

So how do I run Flamethrower Carnage if it isn't digitally signed?

Thankfully, Orange have provided a way for owners of the Orange SPV/E100/E200 to remove the application lock from their phones. Of course, if you do this, you are removing a layer of security that prevents malicious programs from damaging your data or using your phone line. At the time of writing there are no documented instances of any such malicious program, so you have nothing to worry about. But be quite clear, if you did find a malicious or buggy program which racked up call charges, and you've unlocked your phone, you will be liable for the cost of the calls made, because you agreed to the terms and conditions of unlocking your phone.

The Orange application unlock page can be found here. Note that it only works if:

a) you're in the UK;

b) your phone has an Orange SIM in it (once unlocked you can use any SIM, but to unlock you need an Orange SIM in);

c) you have a GPRS connection open on your phone (in practice, this means sit-and-surf while you wait for the unlock confirmation)

d) the web page happens to be working. If the web page appears to be OK, but you don't get the confirmation saying your phone has been unlocked, then try again an hour or two later. The Orange unlock site is often down or apparently working but not sending out unlock codes - as I know from personal experience.

You can find more information about unlocking your phone - including tips for unlocking SPV, E100, E200, MiTAC and MPx200 phones - at CoolSmartPhone.com.

Even more information about OTA (over-the-air) unlocking can be found at MoDaCo, the defacto standard forum for Windows Mobile. I recommend you start by reading this post; please search for what you need to know before creating a new topic, because the chances are your question has already been answered.

You could also try the ActionEngine (AE) unlock method - a program Orange tend to hand out when their customers can't use the web site for some reason, IIRC. It is reported that AE works on the Orange SPV E200, but may work on other Orange, and possibly non-Orange, phones. I can't put it up on this site because it's a copyrighted program, but at the time of writing, you can get it from this thread at SmartFone.net. You will need to register with their forum before you can download it.