Deploying B2B apps through MDM

We're looking at ways to distribute an app to our clients. Its a business to business app.

For various reasons we'd like to avoid the Apple Business Manager if possible and distributing B2B apps with enterprise is against Apples policies.

We were informed by one of our clients that its possible to distribute the app by signing it with a developer distribution cert (non-enterprise) and just pushing the ipa through an MDM.

Is this possible and if so what's needed to accomplish this? If it's not possible are there any other options other than the ABM?

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ch_harr
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It's possible that using developer distribution to distribute an app to a client would violate the terms of the Apple Developer Program, but that is a legal question and this is not a forum for legal advice. I suggest having your lawyer review the agreements that cover the Apple Developer Program at https://developer.apple.com/support/terms/, in particular the Apple Developer Program License Agreement.

There's several other ways to distribute apps. A public listing in the Apple App Store is inappropriate because the app is only for a specific client. Custom app distribution doesn't work for your use case because that requires the client to have an Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager account. But Unlisted app distribution may meet your needs. It does not require Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager. Although the app cannot be discovered by searching in the Apple App Store, the user can find it using a direct link you provide. Then the app can be purchased just like any other publicly listed app in the Apple App Store.

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Systems Engineer
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