Native Apps – Important Information

The two most common and widely used native app stores are Apples App Store for iOS and Google Play for Android. This article contains some important information about how developing and releasing apps to these platforms works.

Submission & Approval

For an app to be visible to the public apps have to be submitted to the app stores for review and approval.

How long does it take?

It usually takes around 48-72 hours for an app to be reviewed. However this can vary and it sometimes can be a lot longer. It is not something KIJO can control or influence. The review process has to be done on each new version of the app regardless of how small or minor the changes. Please be aware that this part of the process can often be the most time consuming with delays common.

Approval Requirements

Each app store has a long list of requirements which they look at when reviewing apps. The purpose of these reviews is to maintain quality and ensure that poorly designed or illegal apps do not make it into the stores. The list of requirements an app has to meet is too long to detail here but you can find out more information via the links below.

Apple App Store Review Guidelines

Google Play Developer Policy Center

Rejections

At KIJO we design all our apps to meet the app store guidelines to the best of our knowledge. However there are situations where apps get rejected for not meeting the guidelines. The reason for these rejections is often down to a change in the guidelines, guidelines being applied differently depending on the app category, subjective interpretation of the guidelines as often the review process is conducted by a human or overlapping of guidelines whereby two points might overlap and be interpreted differently. We do everything in our power to minimise the chances of a rejection but they do happen so we advise that you expect them to happen. We do not advise setting launch dates for apps until the app has been fully approved.

When an app is rejected the KIJO team will make the required changes and then resubmit the app for approval. The timer on waiting for approval starts again which can take 48-72 hours or more. If there has been a fundamental issue such as the app has been rejected for legal reason or significant changes to the guidelines such as an app category no longer being allowed we may not be able to submit a new version.

Listing

Each app has a listing page within an app store. This contains information about the app acting as a marketing page for the app. The listing page is how members of the public download the app onto their devices. Apps will appear in search results depending on their category, popularity and various other factors taken from their listing. Where you appear in the search results is controlled by the app stores.

Who manages the app store listing?

As part of our KIJO Care package we will manage and make updates to the app store listing. We will provide a link to the app store listing once the app has been approved and is live.

Developer Account

When developing apps for iOS and Android you need what is called a Developer account. This allows you to build and release applications for these platforms. Apples costs £80 per year and Google Play is free. KIJO has an account for both and we release apps under this umbrella for our clients.

If clients wish to release apps under their own Developer Account they are welcome to do so. However they will be responsible for setting this up and being the owner of the account. They can provide us access to make edits and changes if required.

What's included in this listing?

Below is a list of what is included and displayed on an app store listing. There are items which the KIJO team will handle and items which need to be provided by the client these are detailed below. We are able to produce some of the client items such as descriptions but this is add-on chargeable service.

KIJO

Icon
App Screenshots
Age rating

Client

Name (Maximum iOS 20 characters. Google Play 50 Characters)
Description (Maximum 4000 characters)
Subtitle (iOS only. Maximum 30 characters)
Promotional text (iOS only. Maximum 150 characters)
Short description (Google Play only. Maximum 80 characters)
Category
Language
Countries available
Pricing
Keywords
Privacy policy link
Support link (optional)
Marketing link (optional)
Video (optional)

Testing

Prior to being fully released in the app stores we conduct closed testing which is available to the KIJO team and project stakeholders only. Testing of native apps is handled differently for iOS and Android devices. The way each works is explained below.

iOS

iOS uses a system known as TestFlight. TestFlight allows you to download and test apps that are not yet released or available in the main app store. When we are ready for you to start testing an application an invite will be sent to the email address you provided or you will be provided with a public link. Follow the instructions in the email or on the link to start testing.

When a new version is available which we want you to test we will let you know that a new version is available and what version you should test.

To update your version open the TestFlight app and click the update button. If the button says open instead of update this means that the new version is not available yet.

The version you have installed is below the app name in the TestFlight app.

More information: https://developer.apple.com/testflight/

Android

Android works again using an email address. We will add you to the internal testing group and you will be emailed instructions on how to install the app. When a new version is released you will receive an update from Google Play and in the Konnect portal.

More information: https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9845334?hl=en-GB

Devices and operating system versions

You can find a list of devices and operating systems we support and test here: /

If there is another version or device which needs to be supported then this needs to be clearly defined in the specification.

Go Live

Once an app has been approved the KIJO team will let all stakeholders know. We can then agree a go live date for the app to be available to the general public.