I want to create a little App for the iPhone and Android phones (sorry, not related to PFF) and offer it for free on iTunes and Android Market. I know that at least for iTunes, your app first needs to be approved before you can offer it through iTunes. I guess something similar is in place for Android Market.

Anyway, the App I want to create is something very simple and could easily be created as a webpage in HTML. This would also make it easy for me since I wouldn't have to worry about creating a version for the iPhone and one for Android. So essentially, the app itself would be nothing more than a webbrowser that displays a (dynamic) page from a (my) server.

Is this allowed? Since essentially I could "push" any content I want to that app, I can understand why it wouldn't be allowed.

Any thoughts?

I have seen applications on the Android market that are exactly as you describe: a link to a web page where the real application resides.

I have not developed an Android app yet, but I do plan to in the near future. I have read a little bit about the market. The Android market is very open and easy to get your apps on. I don't think they do any initial screening at all.

iTunes on the other hand is very strict. Even if your app is perfectly good, if it does not meet what they feel should be the look and feel of an iPhone app, they will not allow it to be posted or remove it later. They screen apps very closely. I'm not sure if they allow linking of apps to web pages.


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It's also quite expensive, unless you are developing a simple app.

Sounds no different than any other RSS reader or decided news reader like my local radio station or fox news.

On the Apple side, you do have to pay a fee to play.. not sure what happens to your app if you stop paying the yearly renewal.

quote Originally posted by User00013170: It is? My understanding is that its the same entry cost no matter how complex ( since its a free app, not a pay one )

Unless you can do everything yourself and it is a simple app it isn't too bad. Just depends on what you are developing.

quote Originally posted by Wichita: Unless you can do everything yourself and it is a simple app it isn't too bad. Just depends on what you are developing.

Oh, i just talking the raw cost of publishing.

Apple will approves or not app's on a whim. Good luck dealing with Apple... Free app may still need a stiff fee from apple. Read fine print on Apple's Dev contract.

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This help?

http://www.luscarpa.com/dev...one-web-application/

quote Originally posted by Toddster: This help? http://www.luscarpa.com/dev...one-web-application/

Yeah, I'd seen a few of those wrappers and although it serves the purpose, they don't mention if you can then offer your "application" as a true app through the app store...

quote Originally posted by Cliff Pennock: Yeah, I'd seen a few of those wrappers and although it serves the purpose, they don't mention if you can then offer your "application" as a true app through the app store...

I have a voip that uses html5 that looks and smells like a real app on the iphone.. worst case write it like that and if for some odd reason you get rejected just change how you distribute?

Cliff, I don't know the specific answer to your question but I have wondered it myself. I think you'd have an easier time if your app downloaded the page and did some processing/parsing before displaying the info to the screen in its own way, rather than just being a webpage wrapper.

And about the fees: I only pay $99 a year, free or pay app. Apple takes a cut from the revenue of the pay apps. There is a lot of fine print, however. Read the contracts carefully