I am just starting and have a few questions 1) I just need a VERY simple app that will display my mobile website. I need it for Iphone and Android. I already have the site created I just want my app to display it when they click on the app on their phone. 2) Does that need to go through Apple approval or can I just put the app files on my website for users to download?

Hi, 1) Apple will most likely reject if its just a link to your website. You need to add possibly a quiz, some native iOS stuff 2) You can go the Cydia route, but your users will need jailbroken devices.

but does it 100% have to go through Apple store? Can I just put files on my website for users to download? Is that even possible?

Users wouldn't know what to do with those files. Example, you put a .IPA file on your website. I go on there with my handset, I click on it. Nothing happens. The user kinda has to know what they are doing to actually install .IPA files. Therefore, its not user friendly. Two options are: 1) Apple store (needs to be verified and approved) 2) Cydia store (your users will need to have jailbroken devices to access the cydia store)

Okay so it is $99 year for Dev account?

Yes sir.

Apple will definitely recommend to you to create a "web app", which does not require any dev account or approval. And for what you're describing, I'd suggest the same thing. If you wanted to add a lot more to the app, then you could surely continue that route here at buzztouch and decide your distribution method.

but does it 100% have to go through Apple store? Can I just put files on my website for users to download? Is that even possible?

Reading about Web Apps at Apples site will give you better information than I could. But basically, the end user simply "bookmarks" your website on their device. It ends up on their springboard looking like an app, but its really just a bookmark. You have to do a little work on your side to supply the app icon, or else it defaults to a mini screenshot of your site.

do you have a link to read about that? Yeah I just want a web app I guess so people can bookmark my site on their phone.

I've personally never heard of this since @strobe mentioned it. I had to google it to find it: http://www.apple.com/webapps/index_top.html I must admit half of the web apps on there are better than the apps I see in the app store. haha. But how does a regular user find them? They aint in the app store? Google barely found them... strange concept.

If you've ever seen one of the users here copy/paste their rejection notice from Apple, they almost always recommend creating a web app instead. From apple's point of view, they'd probably rather a free app that is mostly comprised of someone's website stay out of their store, where they have to host it, etc. They'd rather the site owner have that responsibility. Web apps have been around for a long time. They're just getting more functional, and yet still hard to find, at the same time.

I did read that when users have posted on here. I thought that meant "stick to website building". They dont like linking and like majority of it on the handset. Thats the way I see it. Too bad, there are some neat web apps, that destroy Apps in the store. The irony.

So a web app is hosted on users own website for people to download? I just found a Warrior Forum ebook on how to create icon/app that people can put on their iphone easily (basically just a bookmark). I guess I will read that and see if that is what I need.

A web app can be ACCESSED via a mobile device (wouldn't need to be downloaded, it's simply a mobile friendly website). David buzztouchmods.com

I am learning to just create web app and it will download icons to the iphone. (like a bookmark) It appears I don't need to submit it to the apple store afterall. That is all I was wanting as it is basically just a mobile website but I wanted an icon on the iphone.

Here you go mate: http://mobile.tutsplus.com/tutorials/iphone/iphone-web-app-meta-tags/ David buzztouchmods.com

(goto step 3: Step 3: Setting the Application Icon) David buzztouchmods.com