What are my options in this Windows App?

[news.microsoft.com]

I am creating a Windows Forms app that will use SQL Server as the database.
The app will be used in the following ways.

1. It will be used in the Clients office where the app will sit on the
clients desktop pc and connect to the database on the server.

2. It needs to be used by those outside of the office network. ex. a
remote office that is not a part of the network where the database is
residing.

3. I might have users on the road that with wi-fi access need to connect to
the office database.


I don't want to create a browser based app using ASP.Net. I don't want to
use Citrix.


Here's what I think are my options. Am I missing any? which would you
recommend?

1. Create a windows forms app that sits on the client and a web service that
sits on the server that connects to the database. The user does something
on the client and a call is made for data to the webservice which returns
data to the client.

2. The app creates an opens up a port upon startup and accesses data
directly and then closes the port upon exiting the app???????????????????

Any other suggestions or recommendations?

Bill

 

[Bryan Phillips]

In similar apps, I go with option 1 and use the Smart Client Software
Factory to provide the infrastructure.