iPhone Private distribution

Question

I am new to iPhone world. I have developed an application, which I would like to send to all the iphones come under the vicinity of a particular wi-fi access point. (It is meant for a shopping mall)

With my limited knowledge in this, I understand, I cannot distribute the application through my webserver. I even cant use the 'Ad hoc mode' suggested by Apple, as registering of all the mobile phones is impractical.

I would like to know whether the only solution is 'distribution through appstore'? Or any other solution available?

Expecting your help.

Thanks.

Answer 1

If you mean that the application would automatically be loaded onto phones when they move into a certain shopping mall, then yes, I can see that you are new to iPhone development! :)

For security reasons, the user has to specifically choose to download the app.

If the app is not iPhone-specific but simply a web page made up to look like an app, then you could use SMS to send a URL to the phone. But that would require you to know the phone number, which is also not made available through any kind of local wireless communication, again for obvious security reasons.

The simplest approach would be to put a poster up in the mall, telling iPhone users that they can find the mall's app on the iTunes App Store.

Answer 2

Another possible solution is to make a web app instead of a native app.