peter_act

Look all you app developers and promoters of app programs.

I make mobile sites for small businesses.

All I want is an icon which is linked to one of those sites and uploaded to the Apple and Android stores.

All I seem to be getting in the WSOs is gobbledegook and technospeak, with incomprehensible pricing plans, all of them expensive - even $99 a month - how can it cost that much?

And all of them build apps by basically building a mobile website, then creating the app.
I don't need a mobile website, I just need a link, an icon which my customers' customers can download from Apple or Android.

People keep telling me to charge anywhere from $1000 - $5000 for an app. No small business can afford that kind of money, and indeed if they wanted an app, at those prices I would talk them out of it, saying they don't need it. I want to charge a one off fee of $99 - I could charge them that and still sleep soundly in my bed at night.

So, back to my original question, just to hammer the point further.

I want an icon linked to a mobile site and uploaded to the Apple and Android stores, which anyone can download. From all the PMs I'm getting, that's all they want as well. (and I want it to cost less than $99 (not including the $99 sumission fee to Apple) - just the app itself.

Is that so hard? If it is, please tell me and I'll give up on the idea.
I don't want Seattle Clouds, Build my app, etc. etc., good though they may well be.

I'm sure what I want is possible, as I have uploaded an icon which does exactly what I want on my own i-phone, just by using the features on the phone itself. It's not a custom icon (I don't know how to do that), but it's good enough to get a "Wow!" from prospective clients.

Sorry about the rant, I just got yet another "build a free app" program, which turns out to cost $299 (a month? per app? - who knows?) yet still doesn't do what I want.

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zoro

Hi Peter,

Yeah, I know what you mean. I know it is possible using HTML5, but exactly how to go about it and to set it up is another story.

Sent you a PM

WillR

Peter,

I think the problem you are going to have is getting your apps approved, especially in the Apple marketplace. As you probably know, all apps submitted to the Apple Store must first be approved. I really cannot see them approving apps like the one you describe. I am certain they would see it as people trying to milk the app store and take traffic back to their business website.

I know that's not what you are doing but that's how they would probably view it. Apps that are not really adding much value to the appstore because in essence all they are is a mobile website inside an app.

Which leads to my next question. Why do you want the apps in the appstore anyway? Is it so customers can search for them and find them because lets face it, that's not really going to happen. If I am looking for a local Chinese Restaurant then I'm unlikely to go to the appstore and search for an app, I will just go straight to Google.

So I don't see the advantage of having them in the appstore?

My point is that if all you want is a way for people to add an icon to their phone so they are able to access the businesses mobile website in the future, you don't need to go through the appstore and I don't see any advantage in doing so. Just use the Apple bubble popup on your mobile site that allows visitors to add the website to their home screen.

Maybe I am missing something... if I am, I apologize.

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zoro

For a local busness app I would not be bothering going through the app stores. But how can people who scan my App's QR code, get the icon onto their phone?
I know it's possible because I have scanned someones App QR code and it installed an Icon perfectly on my mobile phone - Samsung Galaxy.
So my question is - How to set this all up ... what to do etc?

JohnDavid

Apple Bubble Popup...awesome! Is there an equalivent for Droid?

peter_act

Thanks Will,

I always appreciate your knowledgeable input - after all it was you and Quentin that got me into this mobile website mess!

You will see from my post that I totally agree with you - I don't see why businesses need an app, as you say, people won't download it to their phones to join all the other useless apps they've got, but you must have struck business owners who think an app is the greatest thing since sliced bread, and I feel a bit lame when they ask me "Can you make me an app?", and I have to say "I'm sorry, I don't know how".

You say Maybe I am dumb - I have no idea what the Apple bubble popup is!" (I'll go and Google it now)


As mentioned Will, totally agree, but it's not me that's pushing for it!

Cheers from a 7 degree Canberra miserable afternoon

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zoro

I found this App Store (below) for Droids where you can setup your own app store and upload your own apps. Best of all it's Free. If you setup a private store then only your clients and their customers will be able to access.

https://www.aptoide.com/

I'm sure there will be something similar for iPhones.

WillR

Peter,

Yes, I have come across the odd business owner who asks about apps but if it's not something I believe will truly help them (in most cases it won't), then I tell them exactly that.

You need to remember these business owners are employing you and paying you good money because YOU are the expert. If they knew everything then there would be no need for you.

For that reason it's important you don't just do everything your customer wants. You are the expert and you need to tell them when something is not a good idea. If you do go ahead and get an app created and it does absolutely nothing for them then how do you think you will look then? Not very good. It won't be your fault but you are the one who will end up looking bad.

You'll find you also get a lot more respect from your clients when you don't just jump at their every whim. That's what most offline marketers do. Most clients will find your honesty refreshing.

It's a bit of code you put on your mobile website page and when someone visits the site on their iPhone, a little popup bubble will appear asking you to bookmark their site on your phone.

Add to home screen

If you're no good with code then these guys released a Wordpress version that basically does the same thing:

http://www.warriorforum.com/warrior-...phone-app.html

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rlhurst

Not yet. I recently had the same request from a client (taxi co.) as the original poster. I talked them into the iPhone pop up bubble directing them to save an icon to their home screen. I also have a splash screen that appears for a few seconds that tells Android users to bookmark the site to their phone's home screen. For now, absent an Android pop up solution, I think that's a good substitute. The splash screen slides away and the site appears.

nitroy2k

taking that money is ripp off..
Go for 100-200$ deals + 20-50$ monthly for support..

Quentin

Peter I think you have the terminology all mixed up.

An apple app that is in their app store is actually a program that is compiled in their language and the icon is part of that app. The same applies to the Android store.

Lots of people got tired of dealing with the apple store and so started building apps in html5 which are cross platform and can be added to any phone and assigned an app icon.

These can be converted and added to the Apple store or downloaded seperatley from the apple store.

For apple you can also add a little code to a website which can then be added to an apple device screen.

Quentin

globalpro

Like Will said, you won't get past the approval process at Apple for something like that.

Our software company started doing business apps for Apple and Android at the end of last year and getting on the Apple app store was a real process. The are only accepting what they call 'quality' apps that have to be approved before you can add to the store.

Android can be downloaded direct at this point, but I look for that to change and them forcing you to do the same as Apple.

Our apps are more stand alone business apps and ones that enhance what a business is already doing with existing customers. Haven't yet seen the benefits of mobile website apps vs. a regular mobile site.

Would work on steering client away from this.

Thanks,

John

peter_act

Told you I was dumb! (When it comes to apps, anyway)

Cheers,

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