Suppose I have developed an iPhone app. I have very specific clients and I want only them to use.
Clients can easily download / install my app and use it by giving their username and password
I don't want public to know
Clients' copies can automatically be updated if any new releases
How can I do those above? in-house app?
Have a look at apples enterprise distribution program which will provide appropriate guidance for the solution you are looking for.
Also i suggest you to read the FAQ list so that you know a bit more about the enterprise app distribution process. Finally if you are satisfied with this approach then you need to create a build and upload to your server for enterprise distribution then in that case you can check this link.
it is possible only through Enterprise Application distribution
You can develop in-house Application for specific targeted people or clients
Related
I want to know if it's possible to put an application, on the apple store, that only the company employees can log into.
I know that I can distribute the application in-house only, but my question is about putting an app that won't be accessible to the general user, even if he downloads it, could cause any problems with the validation process ?
Probably that's what you looking for
http://www.apple.com/business/vpp/
or you can distribute your application using one of the many third‑party services:
https://www.apperian.com/
http://ubertesters.com/
http://hockeyapp.net/
https://www.installrapp.com/
etc.
You need Apple Enterprise Developer Program, you'll be given a certificate with which you can install it to multiple devices.
For restricted installation, only for Employees, you might use
Third party MDM
Develop your own server (not complex) with Over-The-Air installation. That is not difficult at all, you just need secure web server (dropbox e.g), special manifest file for your app, and special link in html. When a user taps on it, the app will be installed. Note: you can implement user authorisation/authentication before you show that link.
That could be your solution.
UPDATE
You can use over-the-air installation with developer program as well. You don't necessarily need enterprise program.
The problem is when you prevent other users from using your app.
I'm pretty sure that Apple won't like it.
Is there any way to distribute ios applications through my own website, not using app store?
I mean is there any way that enables end users to download the .ipa file from my website with their browser application and install it directly on their iOS devices?
I have looked around in the web and googled it, but it doesn't seem to be any option for it out there, I just want to make sure of it.
Thank You
There are several possibilities, which probably won't match your needs:
Since last month it's possible to test apps on a device without the need of a paid membership.
There's a possibility to deploy an app through a service like TestFlight, but this needs either a profile installed on the device (like HockeyApp) or always new build since the old ones expire after 30 days.
You could deploy an app with the Enterprise Program
The easy way you describe is not possible.
Apart from the options mentioned above there are 2 more methods.
Method 1:
You could ask the user to open a webpage in safari browser with the following link in it.
href="itms-services://?action=download-manifest&url=url of the manifest file"
The app is installed as soon as the user clicks the link.
Method 2:
You can also leverage iOS mdm solutions like Hexnode MDM though its bit of an overkill.
here is a link on how to distribute app without app store
UPDATE:
BuddyBuild service will stop on 1-3-2018, the other alternative I know is https://www.diawi.com
Old ANSWER:
Try BuddyBuild , after making a build you can take link to IPA file and distribute it as shown.
The options include:
App Store (free or paid)
Enterprise Distribution (must be within an organization)
Open source distribution
It does not sound like any of these will meet your requirements, so no.
Further explanation:
Just to be clear, the limitation is not in distributing your .ipa file, it is the ability for users to install it on their phone. iOS requires an app be signed by Apple (from the App Store), from an Enterprise certificate, or from a developer certificate when a valid provisioning profile includes the target device.
Basically there are three ways
App store
With this method anyone with an iPhone can have access to the application. You can distribute an unlimited number of applications like this. Apple gets a 30% cut. Of course, Apple must approve your application.
Ad hoc
You can distribute applications using ad hoc without going through the app store, but you are limited to a maximum of 100 devices. With this method you can distribute your application from a web site, email, etc.
Enterprise
The method is for internal distribution in companies with more than 500 employees. Apple does not provide any more public detail that I could find on this method.
It doesn't sound like any of these methods meet your criteria unless you have fewer than 100 customers and don't plan to exceed that number. It sounds like from the question your customers are not internal to your company.
I would advise contacting Apple. They might be able to arrange some kind of custom distribution deal.
You if don't want to upload your files to the already mentioned web services, you can host your IPA in your own computer and distribute over the internet using ngrok and the approach given by jithin.
I've created a server that does exactly that and also is protected by password. You can check it out here:
https://github.com/Edudjr/IPAServer
To send build to testers or client I am generally using installonair.com which allows to upload IPA file and generate short URL which we can provide to other users and they can download and install easily from that link.
There are other options as well like Apple Testflight, hockeyapp but I found installonair.com is the quick one.
If you have and Enterprise membership you can do this, but it really isn't what they want you to do on a large scale.
Take a look at this question: Deploying an iOS Application Using Apple Enterprise Developer Program
You can use enterprise distribution services like BuildCannon, but you still need an apple enterprise account. I use a custom solution, but it's a pain to maintain.
I'm in charge of developing an application for my company. It'll only be used by my company. I found the Enterprise Program.
I read
iOS Developer Enterprise Program
but I also read something about MDM iOS that I need to implement.
Is MDM needed to distribute my app? Also, how will my coworkers be able to download the app? How does Apple know they are authorized, and not some random guy who found the link on Google?
You don’t need to do MDM for the enterprise program as far as I know. As for preventing people from downloading the app, I think you just have to keep the link private, or put it behind a URL that can only be accessed on your company network or VPN. And of course, require login, so someone can’t access your internal information just by downloading the app! Presumably, Apple will revoke your enterprise privileges if they find you are abusing them.
Source: I worked at a company that used enterprise distribution for internal beta distribution, among other things.
One of my clients has 30 iPads that are used with an in-house developed app. The "Ad Hoc" distribution model is easy to implement if the number of deployed devices is less than 100. This approach is sometimes described as a "Beta test" approach, but that's just one common use for it.
See these pages:
https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/IDEs/Conceptual/AppDistributionGuide/TestingYouriOSApp/TestingYouriOSApp.html
Ad-hoc Deployment
My company has an iOS Enterprise Account to distribute In-House Apps. Now we want to develop an app for a customer. The question is: How to deploy the app to the customer's employee's devices? I heard about a "B2B Program", but I wasn't able to find any further details how to deploy to a special Business Store.
I know that there are a lot of discussion about this topic on the net, but I missed the fine details how the process is working in detail.
So what possibilities we have to get the app installed on the customer's employee's iPads?
EDIT: I don't want to invite beta testers or anything similar. I need an official way to install the app on the devices of the customers employees.
Another faster solution then testflightapp is diawi.com.
The link doesn't hold forever but it takes a few seconds to generate a download link.
You either use an archived IPA or a zipped .app , drag it to the relevant part of the site and it generates a download link for you.
We have been using this with a lot of customers with great success.
Just remember - the link is temporary.
Alternatively you can build a simple web page around the IPA file on a server you own (look at the generated diawi page for reference of the tags and info used).
You can also try OTA Distribution process, for more details go through this link.
Here download link is permanent and you don't need to use any third party tool.
How about using a Mobile Distribution Platform like MobileIron?
http://www.mobileiron.com
A few clients at my work use them and their services are pretty good.
I'm doing this for a client now. B2B is, I think, not what you want. Enterprise distribution is intended, by Apple, for in-house distribution. 'In-house' extends as far as out-of-house reps, and even independent contractors who use your client's in-house business app.
Your client should purchase his own Enterprise Developer's certificate, or ask you to purchase one for him. Use that certificate and associated provisioning profile to publish the app (in the usual way using the 'Ad-Hoc' distribution type). Then deploy over-the-air.
Been searching through the forum without much luck.
I have an app on iTunes that help users find the best mobile subscription plan based on their usage - and usage estimated by uploading picture from settings.
The plan is to create an enterprise version, and was wondering if it is possible to distribute the enterprise version through the existing one via a button in the app. (i.e. when clicking it automatically downloads the enterprise app).
Do you know if it is possible, and have you seen others doing the same thing?
And do you know if there are any limitations to the model? (if it is possible)
Enterprise distribution can not be done like that and its own kinda provisioning for distribution, you have to take the member for the enterprise distribution programme and create new binary for distribution.
Enterprise apps are only for in-house app development. For example IBM wants to make an internal mail app that logs into their private servers. Distributing to customers is in breach of the agreement and your account would be removed if you attempted this.