how to release an app without listing it on the app store?

Question

ElCiberman OP

Created Jun ’15

Replies 3

Boosts 0

Participants 4

Hello to everyone.

I searched for this on the forums bur nothing useful came up, so i will ask this out.

My situation is as follows, i'm working for an school and i've developed 3 applications, one for students, one for parents and one for teachers, the student's app is published on the app store, but, due to security and secrecy matters with the information managed on the parents and teacher app (the parents app is a direct link between the school and the parents, where they get exclusive information from their son or daughter) the parent's app and the teacher's app will not be published on the appstore.

My questions are, is there a way to restrict who download the app on the appstore? or there is a way to release an app approved by apple without publishing it on the app store? using the adhoc provision profile is out of the question because there are more than 500 students.)

i mean don't get me wrong, i want to publish the apps to the appstore because it will means it passed all the filters to get in shape, but i don't want everyone to be able to find it, if, for example, the app is approved and published, but not listed and you can access it ONLY by following a link to the store, would be more than enough!

Thanks in advance for any good advice on this!

Boost

Answer 1

RLKingSoftware OP

Jun ’15

Short answer, no. Longer answer, why not make a single app that has different features based on who

signs in... I'm assuming there is a server envolved somewhere in the scenario, simply have every user

create credentials on that server or more likely, the school or instructor should create them for their students.

The students sign in, they get what they should have access to. An instructor signs in, he/she has access to

more. Same for the parents. Of course you would have to create test accounts for Apple Review but, that

shouldn't be much of an issue.

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Answer 2

ChrisAtkin OP

Jan ’16

I am facing a similar situation. I am developing an App that we would like to host on iTunes, but not for public consumption. I have 30,000+ users who will potentially use the App, so Ad Hoc is not a solution. Did you find a solution to managing who can access the App?

Thanks!

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Answer 3

KMT OP

Jan ’16

Selling via Apple's VPP/B2B program involves using the store, but the app would effectively be hidden from the general publc.

Otherwise, Apple's store won't work for your scheme.

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