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Reply to com.apple.developer.exposure-notification entitlement
Good question that I would like an answer to as well!While I have the FAQ and the framework documentation, I can find nothing suggesting where/how one gets permission.I am not a public health agency. I am not even (at this time) wanting to write an app for a public health agency. What I am trying to accomplish is writing enabling code - extension/adaptation layer for a cross-OS e.g. iOS/Android development platform (think like PhoneGap/Cordova/Xamarin/React Native, though none of the above but same idea...) that will enable PHAs (and those they might hire/contract with) to write apps using that platform without having to each reinvent the wheel by writing native code to connect to the Exposure Notification framework.I've not found anything from search, so it begs the question as to how even public health agencies will get the permission? Is Apple proactively reaching out? If so, how will they even know who to reach out to? Are they calling agencies and asking "I want to talk to whoever is in charge of writing mobile apps"? (Which in most cases will be.... wait for it... nobody!) Are the PHAs trying to reach out to Apple? If so, they must be having the same difficulty I am!Any help with contact information, and something more than press releases, FAQs and Framework Documentation would be appreciated!I presume there is some test system to connect to for development?FWIW, I have a sponsor for the work I intend to do, and I will have the cooperation of the cross-platform tool vendor. And it will be open-sourced and placed under MIT license. But it's in an odd niche, because it is not an app, it is just a layer enabling others to write an app.Any idea who I approach at Apple?
May ’20
Reply to COVID-19 exposure notification API Access??
See also this thread:https://forums.developer.apple.com/message/417547#417547It seems there's an entitlement needed, and presume the account needs to be enabled to be able to grant the entitlement.This would seem to preclude even Enterprise apps unless Apple is willing to approve the particular enterprise.You can see how this could be abused to go counter to Apple's intention. For example, logging of geographic location. Logging of e.g. employee ID.Not sure at this point what my opinion is.On one hand, I can certainly see the usefulness of, say, a food processing company, a delivery company, warehousing, call center, school, etc.etc. wanting to track centrally their employees, students, etc. But this goes counter to Apple's intention. Even with permission of employees or explicit language in company policies, it seems Apple would be unlikely to approve of this.So, while Apple normally doesn't exercise control over Enterprise apps, perhaps in this case they are going to. At least until they do some more deep thinking. You can see that there might be controversy and lack of confidence in anononymity if Apple were to permit it.I myself primarly develop Enterprise apps. In fact, my interest in this is to write a compatability layer for one of the cross-OS development platforms. e.g. similar to Cordova/PhoneGap, Xamarin, React Native, etc. (but that is for example, it is none of those, and presume those are already in the works!) I intend to open-source and release under MIT license, and have a sponsor for the work. So, then, it would facilitate writing apps (for/by public health agencies) on a cross-OS platform, without having to reinvent the wheel by writing the necessary native code to connect the platform to the framework(s). (As I intend to implement both iOS and Android).And, so I've given some thought to how Enterprises might want to go beyond the constraints of public apps. But would not be surprised, and would accept that Apple is not willing to allow Enterprise apps to be less anonymous, and so probably little point then in any Enterprise apps.I'm happy myself, then, just to provide the compatability layer that would enable others (or perhaps myself as well) to create apps on behalf of public health organizations.But search as I might, I cannot even figure out who to contact to find out what is needed to gain approval.Presumably, Apple has reached out to some public health agencies. For those they haven't - who would they contact at Apple?It seems all of the technical information has been published, but none of the administrative?Clues, anyone?
May ’20
Reply to com.apple.developer.exposure-notification entitlement
Hmmm, it's extra strict.The language makes it clear that Enterprise Apps would not be acceptable. You have to agree to very strict terms about what the app might do and how it might work. Which of course makes sense.You need the endorsement of a Public Health Agency, even to do development.They will only allow one PHA per country, except for countries that do not intend to release a national app. US so far does not intend do, so states and counties.I'm going to ask for an exception, since my intention is simply to enable a cross-OS development platform that others can use. I will also make some enquires about getting some county or state endorsement.
May ’20