Now that you have created an iOS app and are ready to embark on its journey, let’s discuss the process of app publishing. The motive behind app distribution is to share iOS app with the right audience. Well, when it comes to app publishing, the obvious option which comes to our mind is the Apple App Store. No one can deny that the user reach of iOS store is exceptional and the services offered by it has their own perks.

Apple App Store Distribution:

The most common platform for iOS app distribution is Apple App Store. It makes your app available to every Apple user and it even helps in monetizing the app by setting in-app purchase and assigning a purchase price.

Make the most of iOS 14. IOS is the world’s most advanced mobile operating system. With iOS 14, you can use App Clips to give users a quick way to engage with a part of your app at the right moment. Apple App Store Distribution: The most common platform for iOS app distribution is Apple App Store. It makes your app available to every Apple user and it even helps in monetizing the app by setting in-app purchase and assigning a purchase price. Publishing your app on the iOS store takes your app to a huge customer base. Although being an.

Publishing your app on the iOS store takes your app to a huge customer base. Although being an intuitive platform for the developers, the app approval process can be a bit tricky. There might be a huge delay in the approval process sometimes. In few cases, it even takes months for the apps to get an approval.

The approval process makes sure that your app follows proper guidelines. If your app has any performance issues, buggy or spammed, it will surely be rejected. You can also find the reasons behind app rejection by Apple App Store.

In case the app approval process is getting troublesome for you, then, there are various other alternatives to share iOS app. Some of the alternatives of sharing app on Apple App store are discussed below:

1. Ad- hoc deployment:

Apple provides an Ad-hoc app deployment option for the developers who want to share iOS app for the private beta or a temporary distribution. In this process, the app developer has to deliver the app binary to each user through e-mail or download URL. To make sure that the binary work on user’s device, developer require to add the UDID of each device and register them to Apple Member Center. App binary won’t run on any regular device until it is registered in the ways discussed above. Your ad hoc profile guarantees that test versions of your app are not copied and distributed as per your approval.

Export your application through Xcode option. (Detailed info here). Once the app binary has been exported, it can be distributed with MDM (Mobile device management). But you still need to add the UDID of each device. There is no alternative to that. After that just install the app on the device.

There are few important points which you need to know before going for this deployment option:

1. It requires an Apple Developer Account which costs around $99 per year.
2. This distribution process is limited to 100 iPhones, 100 iPad, and 100 iPods touch installations. Also, a developer needs to acquire the UDID of each device to share iOS app.
3. Whenever a new UDID is being added, you need to create a new version of your application. They can be added only till yearly subscription.

Pros of Ad- hoc deployment:

• The iOS store’s approval process for your app is not required.
• Your app listing will not be visible to the public and they can’t purchase or install it.

Cons of Ad- hoc deployment:

• The number of devices is limited to 100 which can be replaced only once during yearly membership.
• The UDID (Unique Device ID) of each device must be manually registered with your provisioning profile.
• The developer profile is valid only for one year. After that, you need to rebuild your app with a new profile.

2. Enterprise In-House App Deployment:

This app distribution method came to counter the ad-hoc distribution process. Like ad-hoc, here, you don’t need to add UDID of every device. In case you have created an app and want to share iOS app internally with the staff, then, this technique will save you from the extra effort of registering UDID of every device.

Enterprise deployment comes into cause when an app is exported through Xcode and you aim to install it on any device without submission to iOS store or registering device UDID’s. Your app can be distributed through e-mail, URL or MDM.

There are few important points which you need to know before going for this deployment option:

• Enterprise app distribution requires an Apple Enterprise Developer Account which costs around $299 per year.
• There is no limit to the devices, but the devices must be owned by the organizations.

Pros of Enterprise In-house app deployment:

• The approval process of your app by iOS regulators isn’t required.
• Your app won’t be available on the Apple Store. The public can’t purchase or install it.
• All the users in the enterprise can use the account to share iOS app.

Cons of Enterprise In-house app deployment:

• This program is only intended for employees within the small organizations.
• The organization is fully responsible for app distribution and updates, whether done manually by email or through an MDM.
• Cost is higher for the Enterprise Developer Account at $299 per year as compared to normal account at $99 per year.

3. B2B VPP App Deployment Method:

Apple’s Volume Purchase Program allows you to have a private app store for your personal business. You can build internal app binaries for every device which has joined your organization. You even have the option to share iOS app with other businesses.

This process does have an approval process, but it is flexible as your app is not available for the general audience. VPP being a private store, app distribution is handled by the program. This process is mostly used with MDM service.

Pros of B2B VPP App Deployment Method:

• You will get a private app store for your business.
• The app can be installed and used by every device joining the program.

Cons of B2B VPP App Deployment Method:

• Your app will have to go through an approval process.

Conclusion

Choosing a right program to use is as important as the actual app deployment plan. These processes may seem daunting, but with the right approach and proper planning success of your app is ensured. Abide by the rules and guidelines mentioned above and your app will be published without undergoing through any approval process.

Related Articles:
1. Alternatives to publish your app on Google Play Store

2. How to move Android app from one Google Play Store account to another?

3. What to do if your app was declined on Google Play Store?

4. What to do if your app was declined on Apple App Store?

Help users express themselves in richer ways, create and share content, play games, make payments, and more — without ever leaving their conversations. Learn how to prepare, build, and submit apps for the App Store for iMessage. And businesses can connect with customers directly within Messages for customer support and commerce. Your iMessage apps will be available on the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and iMessage.

Sticker Packs

Help users express themselves in richer ways by providing stickers for download on the App Store for iMessage.

Sticker Pack App

Users can tap to send stickers in a thread, adjust their size, or place them on top of bubbles, other stickers, and photos. There’s no need to write code — simply drag your images into Xcode. Sticker packs can be listed in the Stickers category and relevant Stickers subcategories on the App Store for iMessage.

Sticker Pack Extension

If you have an iOS app, you can bundle it with a sticker pack or an iMessage extension. The sticker pack is listed on the App Store for iMessage in the same category and with the same description as your iOS app on the App Store. Users who download your iOS app will automatically see the sticker pack in iMessage.

iMessage Apps

Users can share content, edit photos, play games, collaborate with friends, and more within a custom interface that you design.

Standalone iMessage App

Your app can include stickers, text, video, and audio. You can also use code to add functionality such as Apple Pay and in-app purchase. Choose to list your app in the Stickers category or another relevant category on the App Store for iMessage.

iMessage Extension

An iMessage extension can include the same features as a standalone iMessage app, and allow users to access features of your iOS app within Messages. Your iMessage app will be listed on the App Store for iMessage in the same category and with the same description as your iOS app on the App Store.

Business Chat

Customers can use Business Chat to engage with your business within Messages. Find how to get started and help customers resolve issues, schedule appointments, make purchases, or make payments with Apple Pay.

Building Apps for iMessage

Download Xcode. Get the latest version of Xcode, which includes the iOS SDK and the tools you need to build, test, and submit your app to the App Store for iMessage.

Xcode Download Without Apple Identity

Learn about the Messages framework. Find technical details on the Messages framework, which you’ll use to create sticker packs and iMessage apps.

Check the Guidelines. Learn about considerations for extensions and stickers in the App Store Review Guidelines. All submitted apps are reviewed based on this set of technical, content, and design criteria.

Getting Ready to Submit

Once you’re ready, use App Store Connect to test your app, prepare your product page, and submit. TestFlight in App Store Connect lets you distribute beta versions of your apps for valuable feedback. You can invite up to 10,000 testers using just their email address or a public link.

App Icon. Create and upload two sizes of your icon: one for the App Store for iMessage, and one for the App Store for iPhone and iPad. Download design templates to help create your icon in the required sizes from Human Interface Guidelines: Resources.

App Name, Subtitle, and Description. You can use the terms iMessage and Stickers in your app name, subtitle, or description. If you use these terms, don’t repeat them in your keywords, and vice versa.

Keywords. Carefully choose your keywords to ensure your app is easily discoverable in App Store search. Keywords are limited to 100 characters total, with words separated by commas and no spaces.

Screenshots. Showcase the iMessage experience by uploading up to five screenshots per localization on your app’s version page in My Apps. When showing conversations in Messages, make sure the information and accounts you display are not real. Do not display phone numbers.

App Preview. Your app preview footage demonstrates the features, functionality, and UI of your app. For iOS apps with iMessage or sticker extensions, you can show both the iOS app experience and the iMessage app experience. Do not show the Home screen or the transition from the app to the extension. App previews are displayed on the App Store for iPhone and iPad and are not displayed on the App Store for iMessage.

Category. The App Store for iMessage shows apps browsable by primary categories. The Stickers category appears at the top of the category list and also contains subcategories. This category is only available to standalone sticker pack apps and iMessage apps. You can choose Stickers as the primary category and one Stickers subcategory.

Categories for iMessage or sticker pack extensions are taken from the corresponding iOS app and used on the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and iMessage. iOS apps with iMessage or sticker pack extensions can’t choose the Stickers category.

For details on product page metadata, see Making the Most of Your Product Page. For details on the submission process, see App Store Connect Help.

Linking to Your Product Page

Once your app is approved, it will be available to millions of customers worldwide. Your marketing has the biggest impact when users can instantly download your app, so link directly to your product page on the App Store for iMessage by adding ?app=messages to the end of your App Store URL. If your URL already has an App Analytics campaign link or other query parameter, add &app=messages to the end of your App Store URL.

Download Xcode Without Apple Id

If you don’t include this parameter in your App Store URL, or if users are on an operating system earlier than iOS 10, the link will open the product page on the App Store for iPhone and iPad, and users can download your app from there.

Requirements

iMessage apps are available on devices running iOS 10 or later. However, the content that your app generates will be sent to, and can be viewed on, macOS and watchOS devices.

If you plan to make your sticker pack available for purchase, you’ll need to set up your tax and banking information in App Store Connect. To do so, sign in to App Store Connect with the Apple ID you used to enroll in the Apple Developer Program. You’ll also need to request and accept the iOS Paid Applications agreement. This is not required for free sticker packs.

Xcode Download No Apple Id

For details, see App Store Connect Help.