Piloting an app: TestFlight vs Public

App Store Distribution & Marketing General
TheAfadar OP
Created Jun ’17
Replies 8
Boosts 0
Views 1.7k
Participants 3

Hi,


I'm planning on releasing an app pilot, a build for a limited number of users and for a limited time. The main goal of the pilot is to see how people will engage with it, take their feedback and implement it in the public release.


The problem is that I want a sample of 2,000 active users and TestFlight allows 2,000 invites -invites do not always lead to active users-.


Does TestFlight allow exceeding the 2,000 invite limit? If not, can I launch the app on iOS in the App Store publicly then pull it and relaunch it under a different name and brand?


Thanks,

Replies  8
Boosts  0
Views  1.7k
Participants  3
rjuniyer OP
Jun ’17

Hi ThAfadar,


Unfortunately TestFlight only allows 2000 invites, meaning that you have to manually assess daily active beta users and then decide whose invite to rescind.


However, you can submit an app to the app store under one name, and then remove it from the store, re-brand it, and re-launch it, without having to change the bundleID.


I'd recommend you start the project with the final bundleID you desire, and then change the iTunes Connect App Name (and the app binary name, in XCode's Project Settings) to your preliminary name. That way, you don't need to rename the entire XCode project when you are ready to submit to the App Store.

0
TheAfadar OP
Jun ’17

Thanks rjuniyer,


Would the reviews/rating be removed if I kept the bundleID? If not, can I re-launch the app under a different bundleID with the same features?


Thanks again,

0
TheCD OP
Jun ’17

TestFlight testers cannot submit ratings/reviews because the app is not actually on the App Store. Your app is provided through the TestFlight app, which only allows "feedback" to the developers.

0
TheAfadar OP
Jun ’17

Hi TheCD,


I was talking about the other option, submitting the app publicly -not on TestFlight-. In that case the app would be available on the App Store and people would be able to rate it and give their reviews.


My question is: if I pull the app, rebrand it, rename it and then submit it again using the same bundleID that I used before, would the reviews remain?


Thanks,

0
rjuniyer OP
Jun ’17

Hi TheAfadar,


No your reviews/ratings won't be removed for the original version that they were applied for. However, before iOS 11, new versions always have no review associated with them.


After iOS 11, you'll be able to associate the reviews of an older version to the newer version.

0
TheCD OP
Jun ’17

My misunderstanding. The ratings/reviews would remain, along with the version history. If you want a completely fresh start, you should submit the new version under a different bundle ID after you've removed the old version from the store.

0
TheAfadar OP
Jun ’17

Exactly what I wanted to know!


Thanks,

0
TheAfadar OP
Jun ’17

Appreciate for the note rjuniyer,


Will defenitely keep that in mind for the launch plan.


Thanks again,

0
Piloting an app: TestFlight vs Public
First post date Last post date
 
 
Q