Controlling application modes on a mobile device

1. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon for performing a method of activating an application test mode on a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving a message addressed to the mobile device;

upon receiving the message, and prior to sending the message to the mobile device, determining whether the message contains a test-mode instruction for the mobile device to activate a test mode;

when a determination is made that the message contains the test-mode instruction, then prior to sending the message to the mobile device, modifying the message to include destination information of a network component to which a confirmation message indicating the test mode is activated on the mobile device should be sent; and

sending the message to the mobile device.

2. The media of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

validating the received message by comparing attributes of the message to security parameters governing messages containing test-mode instructions.

3. The media of claim 2 , wherein comparing attributes of the message to security parameters includes one or more of

A) determining that the message conforms to a designated message format,

B) determining that the message originates from a designated group of senders, or

C) determining that the mobile device to which the message is directed is allowed to operate in test mode.

4. The media of claim 2 , the method further comprising:

deleting the message when the attributes of the message do not conform to the security parameters.

5. The media of claim 2 , wherein the message is validated only when the message is received from an approved sender.

6. The media of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

receiving from the mobile device the confirmation message indicating the test mode is activated on the mobile device.

7. The media of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

when the message contains the test-mode instruction, then prior to sending the message to the mobile device, modifying the message to include a request for a list of applications installed on the mobile device that are certified to run in the test mode.

8. The media of claim 7 , the method further comprising:

receiving a response message that includes information identifying applications installed on the mobile device that are certified to run in the test mode.

9. The media of claim 1 , wherein the message is an SMS message that includes a key that validates the instruction to activate the test mode to the mobile device.

10. The media of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

when the message contains the test-mode instruction, then prior to sending the message to the mobile device, modifying the message to include an instruction to delete all applications on the mobile device certified to operate in the test mode.

11. The media of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

sending to the mobile device a deactivation message including an instruction to deactivate the test mode and send a new confirmation message indicating the test mode is deactivated.

12. The media of claim 11 , wherein the deactivation message includes destination information of a network component to which the new confirmation message indicating the test mode is deactivated on the mobile device should be sent.

13. The media of claim 1 , wherein the network component to which the confirmation message should be sent tracks a test-mode-activation status of the mobile device.

14. A method of activating an application test mode on a mobile device, the method comprising:

at a network device, receiving a message addressed to the mobile device;

upon receiving the message, and prior to sending the message to the mobile device, determining whether the message contains a test-mode instruction for the mobile device to activate a test mode;

when a determination is made that the message contains the test-mode instruction, then prior to sending the message to the mobile device, modifying the message to include destination information of a network component to which a confirmation message indicating the test mode is activated on the mobile device should be sent;

storing the message; and

notifying the mobile device that the message is available for download.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the network component to which the confirmation message should be sent tracks a test-mode-activation status of the mobile device.

16. The method of claim 14 , the method further comprising:

validating the received message by comparing attributes of the message to security parameters governing messages containing test-mode instructions.

17. The method of claim 16 , the method further comprising:

overriding standard message-notification policies to notify the mobile device that the message is available for download until the message is downloaded by the mobile device, thereby increasing delivery reliability for messages with test-mode instructions.

18. A network device that facilitates activating an application test mode on a mobile device, the network device comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

wherein the network device is configured to

A) receive a message addressed to the mobile device,

B) determine prior to communicating the message to the mobile device whether the message contains a test-mode instruction for the mobile device to activate a test mode,

C) modify the message prior to communicating the message to the mobile device when the message contains the test-mode instruction, such that the message is modified to include destination information of a network component to which a confirmation message indicating the test mode is activated on the mobile device should be sent, and

D) notify the mobile device that the message is available for download.

19. The network device of claim 18 , wherein the network device is further configured to override standard message-notification policies to notify the mobile device that the message is available for download until the message is downloaded by the mobile device, thereby increasing delivery reliability for messages with test-mode instructions.

20. The network device of claim 18 , wherein the message is an SMS message that includes a key that validates the instruction to activate the test mode to the mobile device.