How to manage an Android app privately and outside the Android Market?

Question

I'm currently building an app for a client who wants to manage the apk afterwards, without publishing it on the Android market. He wants to provide the app to a limited number of users.

• To do so, I've first thought making a second app that will manage the updates of the first one.
• Then I thought it was a bit complicated and I found Pushlink. This is exactly what I need except one part of the terms and conditions that I fear :

1.1 PushLink reserves the right to update and change the Terms of Service from time to time without notice.

I've got actually two questions :

• Does anyone of you have experience using Pushlink, how supported is it?
• Is there any alternative to Pushlink?

Many thanks.

Romain

Answer 1

An alternative to your proposed solution would be to implement your own internal updating logic.

I've done this myself and it's very simple to maintain.

• Have a plain text file on a server that can be accessed from your application.
  • This file will contain the most up to date version number.
• Every so often (maybe once or twice a week) check the server to see if the version numbers differ (Server # > In app #).
• Download your new APK from the server onto the SD card.
• Once you finish downloading the file you'll need to launch an intent to install the application. The user will still have to accept to install the update so its not %100 autonomous but you prevent the user from doing anything aside from clicking "Install".
  • Check the answer to this question regarding the install intent