This article explains the steps to follow, if your business plans to develop an iPhone application.

 

There are 4 steps involved :

 

1. Developing the iPhone application (iPhone app)

2. Testing the iPhone apps

3. Obtaining Apple’s approval

4. Deployment of the iPhone app to your customers

 

1. Developing the iPhone apps

 

If you are new to mobile phone applications, it is easier to outsource this development work. Zoliotech (a Singapore Registered Company) can do the development for you. The development process is like that of any other software development or web site development. You need to explain your requirements to the developer and decide the features as well as the design (look and feel) of the application. If you already have a website for this application (e.g. online transactions), just give that website address to the developers and they can pick up the features from there. The developers will provide you with some screen shots for you to have a feel of the application. If you require more, they can also create a prototype which runs on the iPhone (just the UI prototype, without the back end features). The cost of development, to give a comparison, will be the same as (comparable to) that of the web development for that application.

 

2. Testing the iPhone apps

 

Once the development of the iPhone app is completed, you need to test the application. The developer will provide you with a test build which can run only on specific iPhones. You will have to provide them your iPhone’s UDID (unique device ID), to create this build. You can load this test build through your iTunes. After testing it thoroughly, you can make sure that it is ready to enter the market.

 

3. Obtaining Apple’s approval for your iPhone app

 

You need to submit your application to Apple Inc for their approval to run the application on iPhones. Apple has their own criteria for evaluating the apps and this process may take 2 to 3 weeks’ time. Once approved, the application will be available on the AppStore, from where public can download it onto their iPhones.

 

4. Deployment of the iPhone app to your customers

 

Once you make sure that your application is available on the AppStore, you can advertise the application to your customers. Your web site can provide direct link to your application on the AppStore. However, you cannot keep the application (the software itself) on your website as it is not possible to load it onto the customer’s iPhone from your web site.

Zoliotech provides consultancy and development work for iPhone applications. Feel free to write to us for more details. Email: info@zoliotech.com.