What is it?
A web based self service portal for Blink partners can
- Facility for partners to create their own Blink app shells
- Upload artwork assets
- Upload signing certificates and provisioning profiles
- Create and Download Apps
What is it not?
- It is NOT an MDM solution
- It is the partner or customer’s responsibility to manage the distribution of apps internally or in the app store
- It is NOT a security system.
What is an app shell?
- Native container for Blink Mobile Platform
- Branded with your artwork
- Same code base as the master app
- Adds additional native functionality missing from web browsers such as
- QR / Barcode scanning
- Large local database support
- Push Notifications
- Access to device stored information
- Social media integration
Using the App Factory
Before you begin, you will need to be registered with Blink Mobile. This can be achieved by creating an account at the Blink App Shell Portal. ( https://apps.blinkm.co ). Once your registration request is approved you can then access the service.
Click here for the current Android app shell build process.
Click here for the current Windows app shell build process.
- Preparing
- Test your answerSpace using the mBaas Enterprise Pilot Application
- Ensure all whitelisted domains are associated with your answerSpace
- Ensure you have appropriate artwork
- Decide on your app name and bundle identifier
Building your first app
To build an App Shell you need to complete 3 components.
Artwork
Create the artwork set your App will use.
Within this section you upload all the assets required by your App Shell.
These include icons and splash scree
The portal will ensure all artwork meet the required sizes. Click here for a list of artwork sizes.
Or you can download a zip file of samples, (See attachments section below)
Signing identities (iOS Only)
Signing identities require 2 items
The key file is the file that contains your iOS Development or iOS Distribution certificate and key. This file contains a certificate and a private key exported into a .p12 file and protected by a passphrase. For instructions on how to get an iOS Development or iOS Distribution certificate, please follow these guidelines if you are on a Mac, or follow this video if you are on a Windows machine (ensure that you request a Developer or a Distribution certificate as appropriate).
The provisioning profile is a profile that describes the provisioning information for an iOS App. This file is created through the iTunes Developer Portal. There are two kind of provisioning profile that we are concerned with; a Development Provisioning Profile and a Distribution Provisioning Profile. For instructions on how to get your .mobileprovision file, please follow these guidelines.
Once you have obtained your signing key and provisioning profile you can add them to your app identity.
Enter your App Shell details.
This is where you enter all the information to build your App Shell.
These include.
- Selecting the App template version
- The short version number string
- The answerSpace the App Shell will be using
- The App identifier (Bundle Id)
- The App display name (Shows on icon)
- The App file name
- The App description (For your reference)
- A support email address (For error notifications)
- Selecting an artwork set
- Selecting the App iOS Developer Identity
- Push Notifications keys
Once you have all 3 components completed you can save and build your App.
Distributing Your App.
Once the portal has completed building your App you can then distribute it in 2 ways.
1. Over the air. Simply open this page of the portal in a web browser on your iOS device and press the "OTA Install" button. The App will be downloaded and installed on the device.
2. Download the IPA file. The IPA or App file can then be used to
- Enterprise Distribution in your own Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution
- Enterprise Distribution using Apple Configurator
- Uploaded to your device via iTunes.
- Imported in iTunesConnect to distribute in the Apple App store.
Updating Your App.
- How to update your App
- Clone the old version of your app using the "New Version" button
- Modify the app configuration appropriately (change branding, signing identity, resources, etc).
- Build the new app
- Archive the old app (recommended)
If you require more information or assistance with the App Portal, submit a support ticket.