General

What is SwebApps?

SwebApps is a simple, inexpensive way for you to build, track and update your own iPhone application online.

What does SwebApps do?

It allows you to create an iPhone application online. Once your app is approved by Apple and available on iTunes you may continue to update your content in real time and track your app's usage via your user account on swebapps.com

What’s the difference between a SwebApps app and a mobile website?

SwebApps are installed on iPhone OS devices and run natively. Many of the functions available through our platform provide a better user experience than websites accessed via mobile browsers. Our SwebApps platform also relies on a content management system (CMS) that we’ve built and will maintain, leaving you without the technical hassle of maintaining your own mobile website.

As a business owner, how can an iPhone Application help me?

Your app provides a powerful connection between you and your clients. You can inform them of upcoming events, specials and share video, photos and audio streams via a platform that is always within arm’s reach. For more tips on using an iPhone app for your business, see our e-book.

What about the iPad, Android, Blackberry, and Windows Phone?

The SwebApps platform is currently iPhone OS only. That means that apps built through SwebApps work on iPhones, iPod Touch devices and iPads. Certain functions on the apps built through SwebApps require an internet or mobile data connection.

We plan to expand the current SwebApps platform to Android by late Summer 2010. iPhone apps built through SwebApps function on the iPad, displaying in their native size (see [example]). We are considering offering iPad-native apps through SwebApps in the future. At this time, we do not have plans to expand SwebApps to Blackberry, Windows Phone, or other mobile platforms. If you are interested in developing an app specific to one of these platforms, please contact us for a custom estimate.

Where can I find examples of apps built through SwebApps?

Many of our apps are available for free download on the iTunes store. Keep in mind that the SwebApps platform is flexible: users upload or select their own background image, buttons images, and provide their own content. For more examples of how our clients are using the SwebApps platform, check out our e-book.

What are Apple’s criteria for approving apps? Will Apple approve my app?

Apple’s criteria for approval are continuously evolving. In general, Apple approves of apps that use in-app features to create a more immersive user experience than websites as viewed from the iPhone. The best guide to Apple’s iPhone app policies is its iPhone Human Interface Guidelines:

We cannot guarantee that Apple will approve your app, just as we can’t be certain (assuming your content is intact and functioning) that they will reject it. There are, however, a few things that our development team considers “red flags” in the testing process prior to submitting to Apple. These include:

• Design elements (button images and backgrounds) that impair the functionality of the app or the presentation of content within the app
• More than 2 website buttons directing to URLs
• Websites that do not render functionally on the mobile browser (particularly Flash-based sites)
• Truncated or partial RSS feeds (we recommend full feeds)
• Invalid RSS feeds
• Fewer than 4 items in an RSS feed
• Fewer than 4 items in a list
• Invalid formatting or URLs in lists and gallery description
• Limited or missing text descriptions for photo gallery photos

To help increase your chances of Apple approval, we recommend:

• Including a diversity of function types, and specifically including many of the advanced functions offered through SwebApps, denoted by asterisks (*) in the list below.
• Providing content that is valuable and current, and provides users with utility or entertainment that extends beyond generic advertising.
• Uploading as much content as possible to the app prior to submitting to SwebApps.

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Building with SwebApps

How do I build my app through SwebApps?

Building your app with SwebApps is quite simple. First, select a background image from our library or upload your own. Next, pick 6 or 8 buttons for your app and select a function for each button from our library of functions:

Note: we will be releasing major updates to our existing features as well as many new features throughout the summer of 2010. Please check back here or follow us on Twitter for updates!

• Website – displays any URL you provide in an in-app browser
• Contact* – call (phone number you provide) and email (email address you provide) using the iPhone’s built-in telephony and email applications
• Form – displays a basic information form to be completed and submitted by users with a customizable subject sent to an email address you provide
• Directions/Map* – uses the iPhone’s built-in GPS, map, and navigation applications to display and produce driving directions to a location you specify
• Feed* – parses an RSS feed URL you provide to display the title and description fields of RSS feed items
• Podcast* – parses a podcast RSS feed URL you provide to display podcast episodes and play episodes in our specially-designed audio player
• List – displays a simple list of items, events, services, etc. with titles and descriptions you provide (descriptions can be as long as you want and include hyperlinked URLs)
• Photo Gallery* – displays images you provide in our specially-designed photo gallery along with descriptions/captions (descriptions can be as long as you want and can include hyperlinked URLs)
• Video Gallery* – displays videos you provide as a list with titles and text descriptions; videos play within the app when selected by a user
• Audio Gallery* – displays audio files and plays files in our specially-designed audio player
• Safari – opens a URL you provide in a web browser outside of the app; can be used for charitable donations, which Apple does not allow within the app itself
• *Additional functions are on the way*

After you’re done designing your app, you’ll have the opportunity to change each button’s function or title if you’d like it to differ from our default features. Finally, once you’re done customizing, simply upload your content, complete the app info (title, description, keywords, logo, etc.) and then submit. It’s that easy.

How can I Track my app?

If you add AppTracker to your application for a $10 monthly fee, you’ll have access to analytic information such as number of app downloads and button usage.

How do I update content and/or design?

SwebApps allows you to easily update your content in real time. Log in to your account through our online CMS, to change background and button design images or to edit, delete and add content.

What is the “Client Sign Up” option?

The Client Sign Up feature (a free add-on) allows you to request your client’s email address and phone number when they launch your app. You can view the email addresses and phone numbers you’ve received via our online CMS system and download the results as an excel file for future reference.

Can I Customize my app’s look and feel?

Yes, you can upload your own images for use as button icons and backgrounds. Background images must be 320 (width) x 460 (height) pixels in PNG format. Button images must be 100 (width) x 80 (height) pixels in PNG format.

Can I submit my app now and add content later?

Apple’s review process requires that apps be fully-featured (i.e., no “coming soon” messages) and loaded with a robust amount of content when they are reviewed. Add as much relevant content as you can before submitting your app via SwebApps.

How long will it take for my app to be on iTunes?

Within 3 business days of receiving payment for your submitted app, we will complete development. During this time, we’ll contact you with any concerns. Once all concerns are addressed, we submit to Apple. Apple then takes anywhere from 2-3 weeks to review your app and, if it is approved, upload it to the iTunes app store.

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Pricing

How much does it cost to build an app through SwebApps?

For our SwebApps Basic package, we charge a one-time, flat development fee of $399 and then only $29 per month for hosting. We’ll submit your app to Apple for review and distribution through the iTunes app store.

If you’re interested in uploading your SwebApp under your own Apple developer account, we’ll release the necessary files to you for an additional $500 fee and you’ll then be responsible for making arrangements for distributing your app directly with Apple.

For additional pricing information, please see our pricing page.

What if I want to charge for my app?

If you wish to charge for an app created via the SwebApps platform, you’ll need to create a developer account through Apple. For a $500 fee (in addition to your development fee), we’ll release the files you need to upload to Apple and provide instructions for submitting to the iTunes store. Once your app is available in the iTunes store, any revenues from sales of your app will be split between you and Apple without any involvement from SwebApps.

How much is the hosting fee?

Currently, a $29 monthly hosting fee is applied to every application. A 10% discount is offered to those who pay for an entire year of hosting in advance. Please note that once SwebApps moves out of beta we plan to offer affordable tiered hosting packages based on the bandwidth usage of your app.

How much does the App Tracker cost?

$10/month. No contract required—add or cancel at any time.

Do you offer special discounts for Non-Profits?

Yes, all non-profit organizations may build an app for FREE! Please note that while we waive our SwebApps Basic $399 development fee, you’ll still be charged the monthly hosting fee. Limit one free app per organization.

Are non-profit organizations outside of the U.S. eligible for the non-profit discount?

We require that any organization requesting the non-profit discount prove their non-profit status. For US non-profits, we verify based on Tax ID number. For international organizations, please send documentation verifying your non-profit status to support@swebapps.com. We will verify and approve international non-profits on a case-by-case basis.

Why do you charge for hosting?

All apps built through the SwebApps platform rely upon media and data stored on cloud servers that require a monthly fee. This approach allows our apps to be updated in real time, without re-submitting updates to Apple and requiring users to download an update. With our approach, you can be confident that your users will always see the most up-to-date content every time they launch your app. Hosting app files in the clouds also allows you to change background and button designs without submitting an update to Apple.

Does it cost anything to update my app?

Once your app is live in the iTunes store, you can make as many changes to the content or design as you want at no cost through our online CMS system. If you would like to change the function of any of your app’s buttons (changing a website button to a photo gallery button, for example), that requires partially re-developing your app and submitting the update to Apple. Because of the development time required for these type of changes, we charge a $100 fee for any changes to button functions.

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Media Specs
NOTE: Please ensure files are under 10MB.

Video:

All formats listed in Apple’s official guidelines listed below:

Apple’s official statement on iPhone-supported video formats: H.264 video, up to 1.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Low-Complexity version of the H.264 Baseline Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; H.264 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Baseline Profile up to Level 3.0 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats.

Audio:

Compatible formats: AAC, Protected AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV.

Gallery Images:

Image uploads are restricted to .PNG files. The iPhone screen resolution is 72 pixels per inch.

Audio Streams:

Currently you may use a URL type button linked to a live mp3 stream. For information on audio streams, please refer to Apple's HTTP Live Streaming Protocol

Podcast:

Our system uses the RSS feed associated with podcasts.

URL's:

Must be fully qualified (include http://)

RSS:

Support is currently limited to the RSS 0.92, RSS 2.0 Atom. Our system parses the RSS feed title and description fields.

Phone Numbers:

Must have a minimum of 10 digits (example: 1 + area code + seven digit number) and may include the use of a leading '+' character.

Facebook:

We recommend the use of a Facebook Fan Page in conjunction with Facebook User Names. For more information, visit Facebook.com/username.

Button Image:

100 (width) x 80 pixels (height) in PNG format. Note: You may use transparency in your button image in order to create non-rectangular images or the impression of an aspect ratio which differs from the standard.

Backgrounds:

320 (width) x 460 pixels (height) in PNG format Note: You may use transparency in your background image that will allow the background color to shine through.

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