iOS app review process: app requires external hardware (connecting over WiFi)

Question

We've written an app for our clients that connects to external hardware over Wifi (hardware designed by our client). My question is, how do we go about submitting this for review? The software won't do very much without the hardware. Just to be clear, the hardware does not connect directly to the iPad with a cable, it connects over WiFi only.

I just want to get some clarity on what we need to do to get this app through the review process and into the App Store.

Any insight will be appreciated.

Answer 1

I'm one of the authors of StageMix for M7CL, LS9 and CL and it has exactly this issue - the hardware it works with is a somewhat expensive dongle ;)

We added disconnected demo mode where all of the application's UI works - only difference is that nothing is remote controlled. This has the added benefit of allowing customers to try the app out when the hardware isn't handy.

Apple has always been happy reviewing the demo mode and presumably never tested it connected.

I do suggest that the iTunes Store metadata for the App - and if possible the user interface - is very clear about the external hardware requirements