Branded Mobile Distribution Preparation: iOS distribution

When preparing to launch the Branded Mobile app for iOS, you will need to provide Apple's provisioning information so that the Igloo Branded Mobile team can prepare the iOS app for your organization. 

Sections in this article:

• Requirements
• Checklist of the required information to share with Igloo
• Creating a Distribution Certificate
• Creating an Apple Push Notification service (APNs) Certificate
• Creating Provisioning Profiles

Requirements

To set up iOS distribution, you require:

• Access to a Mac
• An Apple Developer account. For more information, see Apple Developer Program and What You Need to Enroll.

The account enables the use of the Apple infrastructure to provision the iOS version of the application. 

• • There is an application process for the Apple Developer account, and it is subject to review and scrutiny by Apple. There is no guarantee of turnaround time or acceptance.
  • There are eligibility criteria for accepted organizations.
  • There may be a small annual charge to maintain the account.
  • You require legal authority to bind your company to the agreement with Apple.

Checklist of the required information to share with Igloo

As part of setting up the application, you must provide the Igloo Team with the following:

Creating a Distribution Certificate

By following the steps below, you should be able to provide the Igloo Team with:

• Distribution Certificate in .p12 format with a password  
• Private Key and Password

To create an iOS Distribution Certificate:

1. (Optional) If you don't have a Certificate Signing Request (CSR), create one using Keychain access on your Mac. The CSR is required to complete this and other processes below. 
   1. Open Keychain Access. 
   2. In the Menu Bar, select Keychain Access, then Certificate Assistant, and finally Request a Certificate from a Certificate Authority. 
   3. Configure the following fields: 
      • User Email Address: Enter an email address.
      • Common Name: Enter a common name for the CSR. 
      • Request is: Select Saved to disk. 
   4. Select Continue to finish the process. 
   5. Update the CSR's file name before .certSigningRequest and select Save.
2. Log in to the Apple Developer site.
3. In the Certificates, IDs & Profiles section, select Certificates.
4. Select + to create a new certificate.
5. In the Software section, select iOS Distribution, followed by Continue.
6. Upload a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) and select Continue.
7. Select Download to download the certificate as a .cer file.
8. Double-click the downloaded certificate to add it to Keychain Access.
9. In Keychain Access, right-click the certificate and select Export. 
   
   1. Configure the following fields:  
      • Save As: Enter a name before before .p12.
      • Where: (Optional) Select a new location to save the certificate. 
      • File format: Select Personal Information Exchange (.p12).
   2. Select Save. 
   3. When prompted, the Password field is optional. Select Ok. 
   4. If prompted for permission to export the key, enter your computer password and select Allow.
10. Select the arrow next to the certificate to expand its details.
11. Right-click the Private Key and select Export.
    1. Configure the following fields:  
       • Save As: Enter a name before before .p12.
       • Where: (Optional) Select a new location to save the certificate. 
       • File format: Select Personal Information Exchange (.p12).
    2. Select Save. 
    3. When prompted, the Password field is optional. Select Ok. 
    4. If prompted for permission to export the key, enter your computer password and select Allow.
12. Share the required information with the Igloo Team. An Igloo Project Manager will provide details on how to share this information.

Creating an Apple Push Notification service (APNs) Certificate

By following the steps below, you should be able to provide the Igloo Team with:

• APNs certificate in .p12 format with a password

The Igloo team uses this information to set up push notifications. 

To create an APNs Certificate:

1. Log in to the Apple Developer site.
2. Select Certificates, IDs & Profiles, followed by Identifiers.
3. Select + to create a new App ID, followed by Continue. 
   1. Select App and then Continue. 
   2. In the Register an App ID section, enter a description and Bundle ID com.igloosoftware.branded.mobile.{organization.name}.
   3. In the Capabilities tab, select Push Notifications.
   4. Select Continue, followed by Register.
4. Return to the Certificates, IDs & Profiles page, and select Certificates.
5. Select + to create a new APNs certificate.
   1. In the Services section, select Apple Push Notification service SSL (Sandbox & Production), and then Continue. 
   2. From the drop-down, select the App ID that you created and then Continue. 
   3. Upload a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) and then Continue. If you don't have one, create one using Keychain access on your Mac.
   4. Select Download. 
6. Double-click the APNs certificate that you downloaded to add it to Keychain Access.
7. In Keychain Access, right-click the APNS certificate and select Export.
   1. Configure the following fields:  
      • Save As: Enter a name before before .p12.
      • Where: (Optional) Select a new location to save the certificate. 
      • File format: Select Personal Information Exchange (.p12).
   2. Select Save. 
   3. When prompted, enter a password. Select Ok. 
   4. If prompted for permission to export the key, enter your computer password and select Allow.
8. Share the required information with the Igloo Team. An Igloo Project Manager will provide details on how to share this information.

Creating Provisioning Profiles

By following the steps below, you should be able to provide the Igloo Team with:

• The following Provisioning Profiles for MDM Distribution:
  • {your_app_name} - In-House
  • {your_app_name} - Ad Hoc
  • {your_app_name} Share - In-House
  • {your_app_name} Share - Ad Hoc

The Provisioning Profiles will use the iOS Distribution Certificate and App ID, as described in the previous section. You must create additional Provisioning Profiles of the same types on a separate App ID. 

The Igloo Team uses this information to sign and distribute iOS .ipa builds. 

To create iOS Provisioning Profiles for MDM distribution:

1. Log in to the Apple Developer site.
2. Select Certificates, IDs & Profiles, followed by Profiles.
3. Select + to create a new In-House Provisioning Profile.
   1. In the Distribution section, select App Store, followed by Continue.
   2. Select your App ID from the drop-down and then Continue. Use the App ID that you created in the Creating an APNs Certificate section above.
   3. Select your iOS Distribution Certificate and select Continue. Use the certificate created in the Creating a Distribution Certificate section above. 
   4. Enter a name for the Provisioning Profile {your_app_name} - In-House and then select Generate.
   5. Select Download.
4. Go back to the Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles page.
5. Select + to create a new Ad Hoc Provisioning Profile.
   1. In the Distribution section, select Ad Hoc and select Continue.
   2. Select your App ID from the drop-down and select Continue. Use the App ID that you created in the Creating an APNs Certificate section above.
   3. Select your iOS Distribution Certificate and select Continue. Use the certificate created in the Creating a Distribution Certificate section above. 
   4. Enter a name for the Provisioning Profile {your_app_name} - Ad Hoc and then select Generate.
   5. Select Download.
6. Go back to the Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles page.
7. Select + to create a new App ID, followed by Continue. 
   1. Select App and then Continue. 
   2. In the Register an App ID section, enter a description and Bundle ID com.igloosoftware.branded.mobile.{organization.name}.share.
   3. Select Continue, followed by Register.
8. Go back to the Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles page.
9. Select + to create a new In-House Provisioning Profile.
   1. In the Distribution section, select App Store, followed by Continue.
   2. Select your App ID from the drop-down and then Continue. Use the App ID that you created in step 7. 
   3. Select your iOS Distribution Certificate and select Continue. Use the certificate created in the Creating a Distribution Certificate section above. 
   4. Enter a name for the Provisioning Profile (e.g., {your_app_name} Share - In-House) and then select Generate.
   5. Select Download.
10. Go back to the Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles page.
11. Select + to create a new Ad Hoc Provisioning Profile.
    1. In the Distribution section, select Ad Hoc and select Continue.
    2. Select your App ID from the drop-down and select Continue. Use the App ID that you created in step 7. 
    3. Select your iOS Distribution Certificate and select Continue. Use the certificate created in the Creating a Distribution Certificate section above. 
    4. Enter a name for the Provisioning Profile (e.g., {your_app_name} Share - Ad Hoc) and then select Generate.
    5. Select Download.
12. Share the required information with the Igloo Team. An Igloo Project Manager will provide details on how to share this information.