We have 5-8 apps in production simultaneously at the same time now which means that we deliver multiple applications in a month. Now what we experienced during the delivery is that several of our customers didn’t have iPhone developer accounts needed to publish the app or actually they started applying for it but it was not not yet ready. That puts the success of any application at risk, because the number of apps on AppStore is skyrocketing and chances high that competitor will release the same app tomorrow. So get iPhone developer account early if you still don’t have it!
The registration process consists of multiple steps and takes anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months of time. If you are in USA and quick in furnishing Apple with the data required you might get it during 2-3 weeks time. Here is the brief guideline on what to expect from the registration process:
1. Apply for iPhone Developer program
2. Fax business documents that Apple requests after review of initial application (Apple will email the reqs)
3. Agree to iPhone Developer Program License Agreement (Apple will email the link)
4. Pay the membership fee. If you are not in the list of supported countries email to devenroll@apple.com and ask to provide IDP Billing Form for manual CC processing
5. Receive the account activation code from Apple and apply it
6. Login into iTunes Connect and fill in ‘Free Apps’ Contract, ‘Paid Apps’ Contract, Wire Details for payment, Japanese sales agreement and ‘Available on AppStore’ artwork license agreement as well as W8-BEN form for foreign developers .
7. Mail ‘Paid Apps’ contract, ‘artwork license’ agreement, ‘Japanese sales’ agreement to Apple and wait till they review those and fully activate your account.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- How can I speed up the process?
Reply: If at a certain point you don’t hear from apple for more then a week – start calling them +14089744897 or emailing to devenroll@apple.com. They are overwhelmed with the applications so couple of reminders will not harm
- Shall I receive EIN if I’m a foreign developer?
Reply: Up to you. We’ve been talking to Apple billing department numerous times and they confirmed that providing 000000000 (9 zeros) instead of EIN/TIN is an allowable option. They report AppStore payments to be commission as opposed to royalty so there is no withholding of tax or reporting on form 1042 at year end. There is a big confusion caused by the list of countries that have double treaty but this is valid for iTunes and not AppStore since AppStore sales are put in a different fashion. So you just pay taxes at your country not USA.
Some foreign developers prefer to obtain EIN/TIN (afterall it’s a 10 minute call to IRS 1-(215) 516-6999. Make sure you filled SS-4 to dictate it to a representative).
- Can I pay by wire transfer for iPhone Developer admission fee?
Reply: Not any more
- Are the payments from sales coming in multiple currencies?
Reply: Yes. Make sure that your bank account is capable of receiving multiple currencies and converting those.
- I’m an indie developer and don’t have fax to send documents to Apple. Any online solutions?
Reply: PamFax on Skype – reliable and dirt cheap
- How do I pay for iPhone Developer Program if my country is not in the list?
Email to devenroll@apple.com (make sure you include identification code) and request iDP BILLING: Credit Card Processing Form. You will need to feel it with CC details and fax over to Apple
- If I have further questions on getting registered – will you assist me?
Reply: If you are our customer – email to your Project Manager ASAP! If you are a random visitor to the web site – try posting your question in comments to this blog entry.
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[...] Nokia, mobile phone giant, is finally getting into AppStore business with the launch of Ovi AppStore. The launch was a disaster – they probably had to much press coming out and experience a huge traffic spike. While I write this post the Ovi home page says ‘We’re sorry, Ovi.com is unavailable at the moment’. I’m sure they will figure it out and get it right in a matter of short time and developers should start getting their hands on (use this link to register as a publisher). It took me about 10 minutes to register our legal entity as a publisher. Way faster then with Apple AppStore. [...]