J2ME Registration Schemes

Question

We are wrapping up our application and now it is time to worry about how we can secure our apps and prevent reinstallations.
J2ME unfortunately doesn't provide an easy or difficult way for this. My limited research came up with the options to get IMEI or phone number which will be unique MOST of the times but J2ME security doesn't provide any API to retrieve that information. Using low level API for EACH of the devices is a nightmare and not a viable option unless we spend a lot of time tweaking our code for each device release.
Storing data in RMS would not be persistent if the user deletes the application (no orphaned preferences) and hence, there is NO way to prevent reinstallations which should be very very easy for the user. Delete and Install again (less than 1 min job for 1 month) and most of the users really do not mind going that route to save 50$.
Here are my thoughts.
1) Make it difficult for the user to reinstall it by giving a registration form with an email address where we send a confirmation number which he has to input in the App.
2) Send a confirmation number through SMS to the phone number ( have to bear some extra charges) and there might be spam.
'Please' let me know if somebody has a better way of protecting the app. Am I correct about no way of storing orphaned preferences?
Thanks.
-- Raj

Answer 1

Hi,
You can use the method what the content aggregators do. Get the user's phone number and send the link to the app to be installed to the phone thru which he will install the app. So next time when he wants to reinstall he cannot give the same phone number.