Push Notifications - Starting out. HELP!

[fede]

Hello, I've recently started developing iphone applications for a project at school and I've been having some problems testing push notifications. I've read I need to get some SSL certificate from the program portal, but I cannot find the link AppID where I am supposed to get them. Is it really necesary even though I am just starting out making some tests in XCode? What else do I need to run push notifications?
I've started coding the client side, but I cannot register for remote notifications. (I run registerForRemoteNotificationTypes:..., but it cannot register) I think it is because I don´t have the certificates, but I really don´t know.

Thanks!!

[raviram]

Are you a subscribed member at iPhone Dev Center - Apple Developer Connection ? The iPhone Developer Program Portal has everything you need to start testing push notifications.

You obviously cannot do that in the simulator, however to install your app on a test device, you will need a 'Provisioning Profile' which you can also get at the iDPP.

If you don't have access to the developer program then I am sorry to say you are not going to be able to do much! Individual membership costs only $99 and is WELL worth it if you are going to be developing anything.

Hope this helps

[fede]

Thanks a lot for the quick reply, I was a bit lost and I didn't even know what I had to ask!

My idea was to test push ntifications before I decided if I would develop anything, but by what you are telling me that is not possible. Does the individual membership include everything you need to develop and deploy apps (for client and provider) with push notifcations?

Thanks again!

[raviram]

ABSOLUTELY!!

The $99 gives you access to the everything. Including creating and publishing your own apps to the App store.

Good luck

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by fede

Thanks a lot for the quick reply, I was a bit lost and I didn't even know what I had to ask!

My idea was to test push ntifications before I decided if I would develop anything, but by what you are telling me that is not possible. Does the individual membership include everything you need to develop and deploy apps (for client and provider) with push notifcations?

Thanks again!

Yes.. there is a provisioning/credentialing/development process that needs to take place before you can send pushes. This involves

1. signing up as a developer
2. being accepted
3. creating your app(s) in the developer portal
4. enabling pushes for them in the develop portal
5. downloading development & distribution certificates in the develop portal
6. converting certificates to .pem files (using openssl or something similar)
7. creating a "Push Server" process (using just about any platform - vb, php, xcode, etc..) that uses these certificates to establish a secure connection to apple's servers.
8. Matching up Bundle IDs between your app and the dev portal
9. Developing iphone code to handle the incoming pushes

Becoming a developer lets you do all of that fun stuff.

[fede]

Ok, I guess I'll have to get a licence then. For what I've read the sandbox enviroment acts as a virtual device, so I guess that for testing I don't need to purchase a device right now. I am planning on purchasing one, but I don't have the money yet. Is that right? Can I test my push apps without a real device?

[raviram]

Hi

I have no idea where you have read this, but it is just not true.

The 'sandbox' is the Apple Push Notification SERVER provided by Apple for us to test the notifications - you send data to gateway.sandbox.push.apple.com

Once the app is released, you then use the main server at gateway.push.apple.com to manage your push notifications.

I am sorry to say that without a device, you cannot do anything with APNS. Start saving those pennies mate :-)

[fede]

Originally Posted by raviram

Hi

I have no idea where you have read this, but it is just not true.

The 'sandbox' is the Apple Push Notification SERVER provided by Apple for us to test the notifications - you send data to gateway.sandbox.push.apple.com

Once the app is released, you then use the main server at gateway.push.apple.com to manage your push notifications.

I am sorry to say that without a device, you cannot do anything with APNS. Start saving those pennies mate :-)

I read it from the "Apple Push Notification Service Programming Guide".

At the "Sandbox and Production Enviroments" section it says:

"Sandbox: The sandbox environment is used for initial development and testing of the provider application. It provides the same set of services as the production environment, although with a smaller number of server units. The sandbox environment also acts a virtual device, enabling simulated end-to-end testing."

For virtual device I understand it refers to the iPhone device, the client

[ansonl]

It says the sandbox environment, the apple testing server, is a virtual device, not the iPhone simulator is a virtual device.