How to Configure Dell Mobile Connect App for Android

Table of Contents:

1. DMC Overview
2. DMC connectivity architecture
   • Bluetooth (BT) link
   • WiFi Direct™ link (used for screen mirroring only)
3. Main DMC functions
   • Add New Phone (ANP)
     • Personal computer side wizard
     • Android ANP side
   • Launching and quitting DMC Windows app
     • DMC auto-run
     • Quitting DMC
     • Launching DMC
   • Texting with DMC
     • Receiving text messages
     • Sending text messages
   • Hands-Free calling
   • Screen Mirroring
   • Notifications
4. DMC states
   • Paired state
   • Connected state
   • Disconnected state
5. DMC Windows App
   • DMC Windows app tabs
     • Notifications
     • Dialer
     • Contacts
     • Messages
     • Mirroring
     • WeChat
   • DMC Windows app functions
6. DMC Troubleshooting
   • First-time setup
   • Hands-Free calling
   • Notifications
   • Screen mirroring
7. DMC Frequently Asked Questions

DMC Overview

DMC (Dell Mobile Connect) is a software solution that enables users to connect their personal computer and smartphone and create one integrated experience. This provides the ability to work on a personal computer, while also answering calls, sending text messages, and running Android apps on the personal computer’s screen. These phone actions are carried out by using the personal computer’s keyboard, mouse, and touch screen in addition to a high-quality microphone and speakers.

The solution consists of a PC-side app (UWP app that is preinstalled on new Dell PCs), and a phone-side app that the user is asked to download from the relevant app market as part of the initial setup process. Once the personal computer and the phone are paired (once) and connected - the full functionality of the solution is available and ready to be used.

• Sending and receiving text messages
• Receiving and making phone calls
• Receiving and responding to Android notifications
• Running Android apps on the personal computer screen (using screen mirroring)

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DMC connectivity architecture

DMC consists of three software packages:

1.  Windows drivers which should be pre-installed on the personal computer and will be updated automatically through Dell Update (and can be downloaded from there as well)
2.  Windows app which should be pre-installed on the personal computer and can be updated using the Microsoft app store
3.  Android app which should be downloaded from the Android market or other Android app stores

Connectivity between the personal computer and the Android phone is achieved through the following two wireless links (see Fig. 1):

Fig. 1: Phone and personal computer Connectivity

Bluetooth (BT) link

After completing the Add a New Phone setup (see next section), the phone will be BT-paired with the personal computer.

The BT link enables the following functions:

• Contacts: The phone book is retrieved from your phone and displayed on the personal computer.
• SMS: Text messages are received and sent using the BT link.
• Hands-free calling: Phone calls are routed to the personal computer using the BT link.
• Mirroring input channel: The phone is mirrored onto the personal computer screen, and DMC enables interaction with the phone using the keyboard, mouse, and touch. These input commands are transmitted through the BT link.
• Communication channel: DMC enables a secure and private two-way communication between the phone and the personal computer. This channel is used to share device status and transmit information such as Android notifications from the phone to the personal computer.

Fig. 2: DMC BT functions

WiFi Direct™ link (used for screen mirroring only)

To project the phone on the personal computer screen, DMC uses a point-to-point link between the phone and the personal computer, using WiFi Direct™ technology. WiFi Direct™ opens a virtual access point on the personal computer, seen as the Autonomous Group Owner (AGO), which functions as a virtual router. The phone establishes a new point-to-point (P2P) connection with the AGO.
It is possible to view the status of the AGO by opening the Network and Sharing Center on the personal computer side.
The AGO name starts with the word "DIRECT" followed by the personal computer name (see Fig. 3)

Fig. 3:AGO as displayed in the Network and Sharing Center

Fig. 4: The three WiFi links while mirroring are active.

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Main DMC functions

Add New Phone (ANP)

The Add New Phone (ANP) wizard enables BT pairing between the phone and the personal computer, without requiring the user to open the BT setting screens either on the phone or on the personal computer. In addition, this sets up several communication channels and functionalities for future DMC usage.
Pairing is achieved through the ANP pairing wizard - a simple process in which the DMC Windows wizard requests the user to enter a 6-character code. This code is provided by the DMC Android app. Before generating this code, the Android app displays several system dialogues, intended to verify the user’s approval for sharing data and functionality between the personal computer and the Phone.

Personal computer side ANP wizard

The personal computer side ANP wizard is shown automatically upon first launch of the DMC Windows app. When connecting a second phone to the DMC Windows app, the user can relaunch the ANP wizard from Settings > Phones.
In the main screen of the personal computer wizard (after selecting Android), the user is requested to enter a 6-charachter code, which is generated by the Android app.

1. Click Let us Start to start the personal computer wizard

   

2. Select Android, then click Next

   

3. Enter the 6-character code provided by your Android app, and click Next

   

4. Verify that the PIN number code is the same as the one displayed on the phone BT dialogue, and then select Yes

   

5. Click Finish

   

6. ANP personal computer side is complete. The phone is now connected to the personal computer, and DMC is ready.

Android ANP side

The Android ANP wizard is displayed automatically when the Android DMC app is first launched. It consists of the following steps:

• 1. Once the Android DMC app is launched, the Welcome screen is displayed. To launch the wizard, click Pair with a personal computer

     

  2. Next, a BT permission request is displayed. By clicking Yes the Android phone becomes BT-discoverable by the personal computer. Clicking No stops the process.

     

  • Allow DMC to send and receive SMS messages.
   
  1. Click Allow to display the next screen. Clicking Deny blocks SMS functionality

     

  2. The next screen displays the notification permission dialog. Authorize DMC to transfer of phone notifications to the personal computer

     

  3. After approving access to notifications, the 6-character authorization code will be displayed. Type this code in the designated field of the personal computer app (See Step 3 in the personal computer side ANP wizard section above)

     

  4. The BT pairing request is synchronized with a similar request on the personal computer side. To ensure a secure connection, verify that both the personal computer and the phone display the same pairing code. Clicking OK will take us to the next step. Clicking Cancel breaks the pairing process (see ANP Troubleshooting).

     

  5. The final ANP wizard screen displays the personal computer name. Clicking OK completes the wizard and starts DMC

     

•  
  NOTE:

  • The ANP process is required only once for every personal computer and phone. When the ANP process is completed, DMC connects the phone and the personal computer automatically, as long as they are in the BT range
  • In case a phone and a personal computer were previously paired, the ANP wizard still must be run but requires fewer steps

   

  Launching and quitting the DMC Windows app

  NOTE: Closing the DMC app window (by clicking the "x" button) does not quit the DMC app. The app continues to run in the background. The app can only be quit using the information center (see below)
  • After completing the wizard, the user is prompted to authorize the transfer of the phonebook and call logs to the personal computer. Clicking Allow provides access to contacts and phone logs. Clicking Do Not Allow blocks phonebook and call log features in DMC.
    
    

    • DMC auto-run

      The DMC Windows app is configured to launch automatically upon personal computer startup. If the phone is paired to the personal computer and within BT range DMC connects the two, unless the user has manually disconnected the two. There is no need to run the Android app or the Windows app to get the system to work.
      
      It is possible to prevent DMC from auto-running upon personal computer startup using Settings > Startup in the Windows app
   

  • Quitting DMC

    To quit DMC the user should go to the Information Center, right-click the DMC icon, and select Quit (see Fig. 5)
    
    Fig. 5: Quitting DMC from the Information Center
    
    
   

  • Launching DMC

    DMC can be launched in one of two ways:
     
    1. Via the Windows start menu
    2. By clicking the desktop icon (if exists)

   

  Texting with DMC

  With DMC, users can view incoming text messages on their personal computer screen, and use their personal computer keyboard to type text messages.

  • Receiving text messages

    • DMC shows incoming text messages in two scenarios:
      • As a Popup notification
      • On the DMC App when clicking the Messages tab

  • Sending text messages

    • Users can type using the personal computer keyboard and send text messages in the following three scenarios:
    • Responding to an incoming text notification
    • Texting while rejecting a call, or a when a call waiting is activated
    • By proactively selecting Texting in the Contacts tab

   

  Hands-Free calling

  The Hands-Free feature enables users to make and receive phone calls from their personal computers. The call is routed from the phone in the same way as with BT headsets. Calls are made using the personal computer’s microphone and speakers, while the phone can be placed at some distance from the personal computer, but within BT range.

  • Hand-free calling includes the following features:
    • Dialer
    • Making calls using the contacts list
    • Answering calls from an on-screen notification (users can take the call, reject it, or reject with a text)
    • Switching between Hands-Free and regular (private) mode (See Fig. 6)
      
      Fig. 6: The in-call screen
      
      

   

  Screen Mirroring

  DMC enables users to project their Android screen on their personal computer screen and to fully control the phone using the personal computer’s touch screen, mouse, and keyboard.
  
  Screen Mirroring can be enabled by clicking an Android notification, or by selecting the Mirroring tab on the DMC Windows App. (Clicking the Wechat button on the left app pane, mirrors the Wechat app.)
  
  Upon the first time mirroring is activated, a permission request to capture the phone screens appears on the Android screen (see Fig. 7.) The user should click Do not Show Me Again, and then Start Now. Clicking Cancel prevents mirroring, and display a black screen on the personal computer app.

  Fig. 7: Screen capture authorization dialog

  

   
  NOTE: The current version of DMC does not play the phone audio using the personal computer speakers [only phone call audio is routed through the personal computer]

   

  Notifications

  • DMC can pull notifications which appear on the Android phone, such as social media, traffic, or weather updates - to the personal computer screen in one of the following two ways:
    • Notifications are displayed as a pop-up message in the upper right corner of the screen
    • Notifications are also in the Notifications tab
  • Key features:
    • Clicking on a notification activates a mirrored phone screen with the associated app.
    • The user can modify the size of the pop-up notifications using Settings.
    • Privacy levels of the notifications are controlled using Settings (private mode requires mouse hovering to reveal potentially personal information).

   

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  DMC states

  The main states of DMC are: Paired, Connected, and Disconnected.

  Connected state

  • DMC is in a Connected state when the BT link between the personal computer and the phone is active. In order to be in a Connected state, all the following conditions must be met:
    • The phone and the personal computer are BT-paired
    • The phone and the personal computer are within the BT range
    • The DMC app is running

  Disconnected state

  • DMC can be disconnected in the following ways:
    • From the Android app or Android notification (See Fig. 8, 9)
    • From the personal computer App pane by clicking Disconnect (See Fig. 10)
    • By right-clicking the DMC icon on the Information Center, and selecting Disconnect (See Fig 11)
    • From Settings > phones (See Fig. 12)
  Fig. 8: Disconnection using Android notification
  
  
  
  Fig. 9: Disconnection using the Android app
  
  
  
  Fig. 10: Disconnecting using the personal computer app pane
  
  
  
  Fig. 11: Disconnection using the Information Center
  
  
  
  Fig. 12: Disconnecting using Settings
  
  
   
  NOTE: After the phone and personal computer have been disconnected by the user, they will not be reconnected automatically again. To reconnect, users must go to Settings> Phones in the Windows app.

   

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  DMC Windows App

  The DMC Windows app provides the following functionality using several tabs located along the left panel of the screen:

  • DMC Windows app tabs

    Tab Icon	Function	Action Prompt
    	Notifications	Opens a screen with a list of pending phone notifications The dynamic numberings represent the number of notifications that are waiting to be read
    	Dialer	Opens a dialer screen that allows insertion of a phone number to be dialed, either through the numbered buttons on the screen (using touch or mouse) or through the personal computer’s keyboard.
    	Contacts	Opens the phone’s contacts list and allows a contact search Once a contact is found, the relevant details are presented (including a photo when available) and the user is given the option to call or send an SMS message to that contact
    	Messages	Opens the SMS messaging screen and presents the logged text conversations A click on a certain conversation opens that conversation and makes it ready for a new text entry
    	Mirroring	Mirrors the Android phone’s current screen onto the personal computer’s screen. Everything on the screen is available for interaction through mouse or touch.
    	Wechat	Opens mirroring session directly on the WeChat app and makes it available for a chat

   

  • Notifications

    
   

  • Dialer

    
   

  • Contacts

    
   

  • Messages

    
   

  • Mirroring

    
   

  • WeChat

    
   
  • DMC Windows app functions

  Tab Icon	Function	Action Prompt
  	Settings	Opens the settings screen in a separate window to allow the user to modify different app settings and behaviors
  	Disconnect	Disconnects the phone from the personal computer and terminate the current session The devices will still be paired and can be connected again with another click of the same icon
  	Do not disturb	Blocks popup phone notifications from being presented on the personal computer screen

   

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  DMC Troubleshooting

  • First-time setup

  Problem: Cannot pair the phone to the personal computer
  Probable cause: Failure of BT pairing
  Suggested fix:
  1. Make sure BT is turned on both on the personal computer and the phone [if either was not on - try pairing again after turning BT on]
  2. [If did not help] Go to BT settings on the personal computer (search for Bluetooth setting), then locate the phone on the paired devices list.
  3. Click the phone name.
  4. Select Remove Device to unpair it
  5. Go to BT settings on the phone, and locate the personal computer name in the pair or connected list.
  6. Click the personal computer name and select Unpair.
  7. Restart APN by restarting the Android app.
  8. Select Pair with a personal computer.
  9. Select Add New Phone from the Windows app Settings > Phones
   

  • Hands-Free calling

  Problem: Poor audio quality
  Probable cause: Poor BT connection
  Suggested fix: Bring the phone closer to the personal computer. If this does not work, restart the Windows app.
  
  Problem: When using a BT headset, no call audio is routed to the personal computer or the headset
  Probable cause: BT cannot support concurrent connections
  Suggested fix: If the headset includes a connecting USB dongle - connect the dongle to the personal computer and enjoy the ability to use the BT headset with DMC. If no USB dongle is included, there is no current support for the BT headset that is connected directly to the personal computer through the BT settings (BT limitation).
  
  Problem: The contact list on the personal computer app "contacts" tab is not visible
  Probable cause: Shared contact permissions were not granted (during ANP)
  Suggested fix:
  1. Go to Android settings (make sure that the phone and the personal computer are connected)
  2. Select BT
  3. Click the icon to the right of your personal computer name
  4. Turn on "contacts"
   

  • Notifications

  Problem: Cannot see notifications
  Probable cause: Notifications were not granted permissions
  Suggested fix:
  1. Go to Settings on your Android phone.
  2. Make sure that the DMC app is approved to export messages.
   

  • Screen mirroring

  Problem: Mirroring quality is poor
  Probable cause: WiFi (direct) connection
  Suggested fix: Bring the phone closer to the personal computer. If this does not work, restart the Windows app
  
  Problem: Mirroring quality is poor
  Probable cause: WiFi channels mismatch, mirroring quality may be impacted
  Suggested fix: Restart the Windows app to reset the WiFi channel selection
  
  Problem: Mirroring does not show on the personal computer
  Probable cause: The screen capture permissions were not granted for the Android notification
  Suggested fix:
  1. Try to launch the mirroring again
  2. Wait for the notification and approve it
  3. If that does not work, verify that neither your anti-virus nor your Firewall settings are blocking DMC
  Problem: Cannot control the phone using the personal computer keyboard, mouse, or touch screen
  Probable cause: Poor BT connection quality or failure to establish input BT profile (HID)
  Suggested fix: Bring the phone closer to the personal computer. If this does not work, restart the Windows app
  
  Problem: Cannot type in another language with the keyboard while mirroring
  Probable cause: Android Settings must be properly configured
  Suggested fix:
  1. Go to Android settings
  2. Select Language and input
  3. Select physical KB while mirroring (verify that your computer name appears as the physical keyboard)
  4. Add the wanted second language
  Problem: Cannot hear sound from the phone on the personal computer (movies or games audio for example)
  Probable cause: Audio "mirroring" is not supported in this version, audio that is not phone calls audio is sounded from the phone instead of the personal computer

   

  
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  DMC Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Question: During an Incoming call, as I am about to enter a pre-existing text message, the incoming call no longer exists.
     Answer: There is an issue that exists in the software where the "Texting" screen will still exist even after the incoming call is terminated. This issue is resolved in the RoW release (January 2018).
      
  2. Question: While using the camera on my phone and performing orientation, the display appears distorted. Is there a resolution to this issue?
     Answer: Stop the beaming process and then restart the beaming. This should resolve the issue.
   
  • Question: Is the User Interface for the Driver Installer activity available in the native language when the SUT language setting of HK and Ukrainian?
    Answer: InstallShield defaults to ENGISH if the language in question is not supported. This is normal behavior.
   
  • Question: Why cannot I send or receive an SMS message from my computer when paired with a phone OPPO R9S?
    Answer: OPPO does not allow sending SMS messages through Bluetooth regardless of the version of Android on the phone.
   
  • Question: While in the system language is set to Turkish, when setting the "Do Not Disturb" feature on SUT the selection for "on" and "off" is in English instead of Turkish üzerinde and kapalı .
    Answer: This is an error in the translator software used by the developer. This error will be corrected in the next software release after 1.1.
   
  • Question: When the system language is set to Spanish when setting the "Do Not Disturb" is displayed for altering, the message to set is incomplete.
    Answer: While the message is incomplete, a fix has been identified and developed for resolving the issue. The solution will be implemented in the next software release.
     
  • Question: When selecting Emoji for a message, I experience one of the following errors:
    • Some Emoji’s not properly showing up
    • When you input a lot of Emoji (more than two lines) in an SMS conversation screen, the edit box does not automatically follow the input cursor
    • Some Emoji of the personal computer app cannot show in the SMS edit box and phone
    • Emoji cannot show in the details of SMS conversion with an LG phone
    • Some Emojis cannot show on the Phone but can be displayed on the personal computer app
    • When you click two emojis continuously after opening the emoji pane, the emoji pane will disappear
    • The emoji is lost when reopening the SMS that has been sent
    • The Emoji message shows incorrectly when repeats click singing "national flag" button
    Answer: None of these proprietary third-party software errors will be corrected as Dell does not have access to the code.
   
  • Question: As a user, sometimes Bluetooth will lose the Device Manager after changing the OS language.
    Answer: Updating the Bluetooth driver to the latest revision resolves the issue
   
  • Question: As a user, is there a solution if notifications do not appear on my personal computer app that originated from my phone?
    Answer: For Vivo phones, during the paring procedure the current version should pop up a Vivo hidden permission window in which the user should grant permission to receive notifications. For all other phones, uninstall the app, re-install the app, and then reboot the phone. 
   
  • Question: Sometimes the third-party push information to the notification center is incomplete.
    Answer: This issue has been detected with those phones that are using Specific (Chinese) applications that are using a custom view for displaying notifications. This issue will be resolved in a future release.
   
  • Question: Sometimes my cursor/mouse will not work on the beaming window on my personal computer when I pair my Smart Phone to my personal computer with DMC.
    Answer: Certain security packages on smartphones can cause this issue. If the user unpairings all devices, waits 3 minutes, and then repairs, the mouse/cursor functionality should be restored.
   
  • Question: Sometimes the characters in my email are jumbled.
    Answer: This is a Microsoft Outlook issue with their email. Microsoft’s integrated email does not decode all characters. This issue is not found with other email services. A workaround can be achieved by editing the advanced settings in the Microsoft Mail client. https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windowslive/forum/livemail-email/windows-live-mail-mailto-protocoll-link-utf8-chars/70c99781-7f72-4c17-b678-4074576bf1f4  
   
  • Question: The picture for the phone contact in the SMS is not displayed on the personal computer.
    Answer: This is normal functionality for DMC. DMC does not attempt to associate the SMS picture with a particular text or phone call.
   
  • Question: How do I remove the "Bluetooth HID Device" yellow bang when Dell Mobile Connect is connected to a smartphone using DMC and then connected to a second personal computer using Bluetooth?
    Answer: Go to the personal computer settings, and remove the second personal computer Bluetooth from the SUT. Then the "Bluetooth HID device" yellow bang disappears from Dell Mobile Connect.

   

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