Installable .ipa without device info? How to do it? [closed]

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Closed 5 years ago.

Someone recently sent me a .ipa file that I was able to install on my iPhone. They didn't have any of my device information, so no registration of my device was done. I am an Apple developer, but pretty sure I just installed the .ipa via iTunes. I guess my device is registered under my developer program with provisioning profiles, etc, but they didn't register it.

What technique did they use for this? Enterprise Program? Or can any developer send an .ipa to another developer and they'll be able to install it without knowing anything about their device?

Would be nice to be able to send .ipa files to clients for testing without having to register their devices.

Answer 1

Two words: Enterprise Program.

Answer 2

It's a good guess that the app is provisioned with an enterprise account identity. The enterprise account requires a Dun and Bradstreet identity as well as contact info of an officer. In agreeing to the terms, the developer agrees to distribute apps to employees of that business (and I think to third parties, but exclusively to assist in development or test).