Skytrak iOS app, only for US residents!!!

[davray666]

It used to be possible to install/update the Skytrak iOS app also for non US residents. With the latest policy and Apple Id changes it's no longer possible to download the app unless you have a US address and more importantly a US credit card. That is now the only way to register the required US Apple Id.

It would be great if I could blame Apple for this and join the Apple hater crowd but this one is on Skytrak since they decided to limit it to the US only.
Why they did, is beyond me. But I guess that could be because I am not smart enough.
So I am currently stuck on v1.8.6 and will probably remain so until Skytrak decides to open up the app for people outside of the US.
For those of you that have not bought a unit yet and don't live in the US. Don't buy one because you will be stuck with a very expensive paper weight.
Sad ...

[doublebogey]

Holy sh*t!. U.S. SkyTrak, why can't you make the U.S.app available outside U.S. App Store?

[TurfWar]

There has to be a workaround for this. Be patient, someone will be able to help you. Have you tried creating a new iTunes account WITHOUT a credit card? I'd start there and consider a VPN.Good luck.

[davray666]

Well it used to work before but not anymore.
I work for a US company and have access to a US VPN server. As far as I can see it's not possible anymore to create a new Apple id without a credit card. You can remove the credit card once you have a verified account, but you can't create a new one without it. If I use my non US credit card I get an error. If I try to change country on an existing account the credit card process starts all over again. (even if the credit card is set to "none" The fact that Apple blocked this makes perfect sense and if we find a new way they will block that as well. Fully understandable on Apple's part.
The strange thing is that I have to mess around with this in the first place. It's not like I stole the unit or got a massive discount for being in Europe.

[Wev]

This does sound bad, what about people that are not from the US but live in the US as an expat and don't have a US credit card? I manged to get a US account but have not tried to log in to it for a while, but if I can't update I'll be mad. Either that or I'll have to borrow someones apple i.d to download the update, which will be a pain.

I can't see any reason why SkyTrack wouldn't allow the app to downloaded worldwide, as well as can't see why it's not approved for use/ sale in Europe yet.

[davray666]

As long as you have a valid US Apple Id, you are fine I guess. In my case I had to switch country back and forth between US account without credit card and Swedish account with credit card.
I did not have a separate "bogus" US account. If you have one don't mess with it because I don't think those can be created anymore.
The nightmare started last week when account management changed at Apple.

[luv2golf]

Does this not work.............substitute Japan for U.S.

http://magnetic-rose.net/2013/06/how-to-download-from-the-japan-app-store/

This was how I downloaded the XSWING app.

[davray666]

Nope, that used to work before. Now it looks almost the same with the exception that the "none" option for "payment method" is gone. E.g. you need a valid credit card for the country you are about to change to.
Once the registration passes, you can go back and select "none" for credit card.
No idea if this is only valid when you try to change to "USA" app store or if it has something to do with my recent setup of "family sharing". The new id I have registered has no "family sharing" association and uses an email addr. that has never been used with Apple before. So I don't think that is the problem.

[davray666]

I also tried selecting PayPal as payment method, but that did not work since PayPal reported that a US account is required by Apple.

[luv2golf]

Try the Canadian App store. See if that works.

[TurfWar]

http://www.labnol.org/software/apple-id-without-credit-card/19299/

[davray666]

TurfWar, I tried that but it throws an error that says "Contact Apple support" (That did not happen before so this is a recently added Apple restriction)
luv2golf, thanks for that suggestion. switching to the Canadian app store worked fine. I had to un-install the existing app since Apple keeps track of what id was used to install it, you can't update it.
So I should be good to go because it connects fine to the Skytrak. Need to step out to the garage and do a field test.

I believe it's only a matter of time before Apple gets around to block all app stores for all countries. This is a hole in their regional DRM management that I am sure they will close eventually.

[MrHogan]

Theres free workarounds without a us address or credit card. Google is your friend. Apple unfortunately is not.

[Sascha1818]

I had the same issue. I had an American I know lock into his account with my ipad, install the app and lock back out. It's bull that I had to do it but I worked. The biggest problem is that I have to bring it to him every time a new update comes out cause it won't do it on my account.

[Wev]

How do under 18's (who can't get a credit card) get an apple account, or can't they?