Deploying an iOS Application Using Apple Enterprise Developer Program

34
votes

I have created an application for a company that I need to deploy. The application is for internal use only so it will not be available on the App Store. Do I need a UDID for each individual on whose device the app will be installed? That would be impossible since there are 500 employees. Does anyone have a good documentation or experience on deploying the iOS iPhone application using the Enterprise Developer Program only.

6
ios
@azamsharpI am facing the same problem, can you please tell me the correct way that how can i publish my app in multiple employees using IOS Enterprise program? Thanks – Anand Gautam

6 Answers

24
votes

With the Apple ENTERPRISE Developer Program you can NOT distribute an App in the Apple AppStore.

Its purpose is to collaborate an In-House App in your own company.

The Enterprise account does not necessarily need the UDID of your target devices. You can for instance also use a link which remotely installs the app directly on the device.

You can find more details here: https://developer.apple.com/programs/enterprise/

22
votes

If you are trying to deploy applications to customers/users on a production/long term basis, you can deploy an applications outside the apple store in three ways:

  1. manually via iTunes
  2. directly via iTunes Configuration utility
  3. via weblink (sent via mms, email, webbrowser etc.)

In order to distribute an application this way, the application must have a special corporate signature, and each device must have a matching corporate signature installed manually.

The best overall explanation for the process is available at this link.

If you're just testing on a handful of test devices, then you I would suggest two approaches: a dev release to a test device follow step by step instructions here.

Or you can use a helper application to deploy a beta release: testflightapp.

6
votes

You can do distribute your iOS app to only a particular set of people (in your case, your company employee), by following these procedure

  1. Get a apple enterprise developer account
  2. Create a distribution certificate and provisioning profile (In-House) using your enterprise developer account
  3. Archive the ipa file using the created certificate and provisioning profile
  4. While saving the ipa, click on the check mark. So, the plist file is also created.
  5. Host the plist and ipa file in your server
  6. Include a download html file with a href tag with src "itms-services://?action=download-manifest&url=https://mydomain.com/apps/MyInHouseApp.plist"

Now when you click on the link from your device the app will get downloaded.

0
votes

I don't agree with the previous answer. Check this document page 26.

MDM servers can deploy both App Store apps and in-house enterprise apps to devices over the air. Both paid and free App Store apps can be managed by an MDM server using Volume Purchase Program (VPP) managed distribution.

Once you have VPP and Enterprise Developer account you could be able to install apps in the app store or company owned apps into the managed devices.

Further for just deploying the in-house app you could follow this 9 step process.

0
votes

If you need to deploy to many devices i suggest AirWatch. I've used it many times, it can be a bit frustrating to set up but once you have it working its very nice to have.

-1
votes

Testflight still requires udid and the limit is 100 for 1 year before you can reset. Enterprise deployment is best method for in house apps.