How to give my own apps to my existing customer base?

BBryanB · 9th Feb 2013, 02:03 PM

Hi, I am not a tech sort of person so please bear with me here.

I am in the process of developing two very simple apps for my existing customers. I am not looking to sell the apps in an apps store, I am just looking to give my apps to the people who are already my customers.

Right now, I have a software program that we either give our people a copy on a CD or we direct them to a download page where they download the software from that page, directly onto their computer.

Can we do the same thing with the apps?

Like I said, not a tech sort of person. I do not own a smart phone or similar device, so the the whole app process is a real mystery to me.

All of the programming we are going to put on the apps has already been done for the software, just need to edit it a bit and size it up for the apps.

Yes, I do have a programmer for the tech side of the process. He is a great programmer, but he seems to be as clueless about the actually loading up and transferring the apps to new people as I am.

Any help you could throw my way would be appreciated.

Regards
Bryan

Valdor Kiebach · 10th Feb 2013, 02:50 PM

You can send Android users a link to download and they can install if they have install from untrusted sources enabled.

Dont know about other platforms.

BBryanB · 10th Feb 2013, 03:44 PM

Thanks for the help. From your post, I can have my apps on the same download page that my software is on, when they go to that page, they download the app the same way they would the software?

I am getting a SSL certificate for the software, which my understanding is, when I get that certificate from my hosting company, that warning message will not come up saying downloading my software could be dangerous to their computer.

Can I also get a SSL certificate for the apps?

Thanks
Bryan

Tsnyder · 10th Feb 2013, 06:27 PM

Here are a couple sources that might help...

This one is a free ebook. You have to opt in but
it looks like it could be useful.

7 Keys to simplify Application Delivery

Mobile App Distribution - Deliver Your Apps To Any Phone With SMS

Social App Zone · 11th Feb 2013, 12:03 AM

They sound like Android Apps. If so, you simply distribute the .apk file (email it, put it on media, make it downloadable from your website etc) and they install it on their phone.

SSL for apps? Not sure what you mean here. If you app is sitting at https://www.mycoolsite.com/mycoolapp.apk you should be fine.

Guessing a little what you are doing here, but should be fairly simple

attrecto · 13th Feb 2013, 06:38 AM

On Android you can send them the .apk files via e-mail, or make them download it via QR code, but on iOS you can't do that. You have to publish it to the iTunes AppStore. However Apple gives you the opportunity to Ad-Hoc distribute the app (so you don't have to publish it to the store), but it's a really limited opportunity. I think the best way is to publish the app in the stores, and by this potential customers may find your app...
Here you can find out more about Apple's distribution channels: https://developer.apple.com/programs...istribute.html

9th Feb 2013, 02:03 PM	#1
BBryanB HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2010 Location: Barrie, Onatrio Canada Posts: 200 Thanks: 21 Thanked 24 Times in 20 Posts	How to give my own apps to my existing customer base? Share on: Hi, I am not a tech sort of person so please bear with me here. I am in the process of developing two very simple apps for my existing customers. I am not looking to sell the apps in an apps store, I am just looking to give my apps to the people who are already my customers. Right now, I have a software program that we either give our people a copy on a CD or we direct them to a download page where they download the software from that page, directly onto their computer. Can we do the same thing with the apps? Like I said, not a tech sort of person. I do not own a smart phone or similar device, so the the whole app process is a real mystery to me. All of the programming we are going to put on the apps has already been done for the software, just need to edit it a bit and size it up for the apps. Yes, I do have a programmer for the tech side of the process. He is a great programmer, but he seems to be as clueless about the actually loading up and transferring the apps to new people as I am. Any help you could throw my way would be appreciated. Regards Bryan

10th Feb 2013, 02:50 PM	#2
Valdor Kiebach Howdy War Room Member Join Date: 2008 Location: England Posts: 679 Thanks: 101 Thanked 150 Times in 124 Posts	Re: How to give my own apps to my existing customer base? Share on: You can send Android users a link to download and they can install if they have install from untrusted sources enabled. Dont know about other platforms.

10th Feb 2013, 03:44 PM	#3
BBryanB HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2010 Location: Barrie, Onatrio Canada Posts: 200 Thanks: 21 Thanked 24 Times in 20 Posts	Re: How to give my own apps to my existing customer base? Share on: Thanks for the help. From your post, I can have my apps on the same download page that my software is on, when they go to that page, they download the app the same way they would the software? I am getting a SSL certificate for the software, which my understanding is, when I get that certificate from my hosting company, that warning message will not come up saying downloading my software could be dangerous to their computer. Can I also get a SSL certificate for the apps? Thanks Bryan

10th Feb 2013, 06:27 PM	#4
Tsnyder Wordsmith War Room Member Join Date: 2003 Location: , , USA. Posts: 2,642 Thanks: 814 Thanked 1,739 Times in 834 Posts	Re: How to give my own apps to my existing customer base? Share on: Here are a couple sources that might help... This one is a free ebook. You have to opt in but it looks like it could be useful. 7 Keys to simplify Application Delivery Mobile App Distribution - Deliver Your Apps To Any Phone With SMS
	If you knew what I know you'd be doing what I do...

11th Feb 2013, 12:03 AM	#5
Social App Zone I BUILD AWESOME SCRIPTS War Room Member Join Date: 2012 Location: New Zealand Posts: 544 Thanks: 21 Thanked 127 Times in 74 Posts	Re: How to give my own apps to my existing customer base? Share on: They sound like Android Apps. If so, you simply distribute the .apk file (email it, put it on media, make it downloadable from your website etc) and they install it on their phone. SSL for apps? Not sure what you mean here. If you app is sitting at https://www.mycoolsite.com/mycoolapp.apk you should be fine. Guessing a little what you are doing here, but should be fairly simple
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13th Feb 2013, 06:38 AM	#6
attrecto Mobile Warrior Join Date: 2012 Posts: 25 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: How to give my own apps to my existing customer base? Share on: On Android you can send them the .apk files via e-mail, or make them download it via QR code, but on iOS you can't do that. You have to publish it to the iTunes AppStore. However Apple gives you the opportunity to Ad-Hoc distribute the app (so you don't have to publish it to the store), but it's a really limited opportunity. I think the best way is to publish the app in the stores, and by this potential customers may find your app... Here you can find out more about Apple's distribution channels: https://developer.apple.com/programs...istribute.html
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