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How to deploy an iOS app without having to submit them to App Store Connect?

F
FVolral
Eleveo

We've been able to deploy our iOS App to App Store Connect but the process is very strict and we fear that it will be a mess when we will have to fix some bugs. When I'm using XCode, I see it is possible to choose Entreprise as a method of distribution : 







If I understand it correctly,  the users can download directly the IPA file stored somewhere on a server with this method,. I'm wondering if SOTI is able to download that IPA file and deploy it on our devices using this method ? I ask because in the SOTI documentations, I've found this : 
https://soti.net/mc/help/v14.1/en/console/data/sotihub/hub_deploy_app_packages.html 

Where I can read that : 

Note: This procedure is only applicable to Android (4.1+) devices. While the SOTI Hub app is available on iOS devices, Apple's security restrictions prevent SOTI from providing an .ipa file outside of the Apple App Store.

So, is it possible to find an easier solution than uploading the app to App Store Connect ? 

3 years ago
iOS
ANSWERS
RC
Raymond Chan Diamond Contributor
3 years ago

To deploy .ipa app directly from your MobiControl server v14.1, you can use app-catalog rule.  See

https://www.soti.net/mc/help/v14.1/en/console/reference/dialogs/rules/appcatalog/ios/appcatalog_addedit_enterprise_ios.html

Please note that the .ipa to be distributed via MDM server directly has to be developed using the more expensive Apple Developer Enterprise Program account.

K
KCMOD@SOTI
3 years ago

Hello FVolral,

Thank you for posting on SOTI Central!
 
One of our product experts recommended hosting the IPA file on a web server that is reachable by MobiControl and the device. 
You will also need to create a custom provisioning profile (plist file) that you need to host with the IPA file on the webserver. 
You just need to provide the App Catalog rule with the Web URL of the Plist file and MobiControl will take care of the rest.

Please let me know if you have any other questions or you can mark this post as solutioned.
 

Regards,

Technical Support | SOTI Inc. |1.905.624.9828 | support@soti.net | www.soti.net |

F
FVolral
3 years ago

Hi, 

During the process of creating an Apple Developer Enterprise Program account, we had a call from someone from Apple. She discouraged us to choose this solution. She says that it is way more expensive. She also said that the procedure of deployment was nearly the same than App Store Connect, that we would have to do the same kind of anoying submission for each deployment. 

However I thought it would be 299$ per year instead of 99$, which is affordable and that we could deploy our IPA files directly via SOTI. 

Is it true?

K
KCMOD@SOTI
3 years ago

Hello FVolral,

Thank you for your reply!

For any billing inquiries please reach out to your Account Manager.

If you are wondering if you can use App Store Connect instead of Apple Developer Enterprise Program, could you confirm please do you have access to the URL of the Plist file?

Regards,

Technical Support | SOTI Inc. |1.905.624.9828 | support@soti.net | www.soti.net |

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