Can I develop an iOS app that can download multiple free iBooks that I publish and make them available within the iBooks app?

Question

Can I develop an iOS app that can download multiple free iBooks that I publish and make them available within the iBooks app?

Is it possible for a self-developed iOS app to download iBooks from our server and make the books available to the iBooks app?

My organization is evaluating publishing some free training manuals / textbooks as iBooks made with Apple's "iBooks Author" software. We don't necessarily want to use the iTunes Store for distribution because of the semi-sensitive nature of the content. To distribute the books to users with iPads, we've thought of using MDM software, a webpage, or an iOS app. The reasoning behind an iOS app is that the app would be a "download manager", making it much easier for a user to download all 42 books all at once. A user would install our "free training manual download manager" iOS app and use it to authenticate to a our server app that would serve the books, the end result being the books available via the iBooks app.

Thanks,

Ted

Posted on Apr 22, 2013 1:23 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Apr 22, 2013 1:26 PM in response to Ted Fitzpatrick

If you aren't planning to use the iTunes Store, then don't bother. The iPad is a closed device. Media only comes from the iTunes Store.

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Answer 2

Apr 22, 2013 2:02 PM in response to Kappy

Hi Kappy,

Actually Apple lets self-publishers distribute iBooks outside of the iTunes Store, as long as the iBooks are free (no cost to user).

What I'm wondering is if it's possible for a custom iOS app to side-load iBooks so that they're available to a user within the iBooks app.

If not, we'll either post the iBooks for download from our website or we'll use MDM software to push the iBooks to MDM-enrolled iPads.

Ted

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Answer 3

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Apr 22, 2013 2:20 PM in response to Ted Fitzpatrick

I think you should ask someone at Apple. Inasmuch as we are all users here we are in no position to provide a definitive answer to your question. Whatever you would like to do would most likely require specific approval from Apple.

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Answer 4

Apr 22, 2013 2:41 PM in response to Kappy

Hi Kappy,

Actually, my question that you're responding to is posted within the "Developer Forums" section of the Apple Support Communities. Should be a lot of programmer types here ... that said, I don't expect many programmers to have tried to develop the specific kind of functionality I've described -- for the reasons you've mentioned. However, anything's possible!

Ted

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Answer 5

etresoft

Level 8

46,092 points

Apr 22, 2013 5:55 PM in response to Ted Fitzpatrick

The only way into iBooks is through iTunes. You can distribute free books in iTunes if you want. You can write an app to display your own free content. But iBooks belongs to Apple.

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