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 ...

[Doug Doty]

I think my 16 year old daughter just needed a bank card in her name which she has her own account ... We had to assist her setting it up but apple did not care or got told a fib, one or the other.

[ghopper8]

I can still download apps from the US itunes store (I'm in Australia), but I do have itunes credit, not sure if that makes it different

[fabini]

Hi Davray,

I have a solution for you, this is not a long time solution but...

1. Take you iphone/ipad
2. scroll over the "selection page"
3. select "Show apple login"
4. Enter you password
5. Select "Country/area"
6. Modificate the area
7. Pick United states
8. next
9 Agree for the policy
10. When you are on the billing information select non and next
11 for your personnal information. You can let it like this is but you need to pick a state ramdomly. I choose arkansas...you can choose this zip code:71998
your phone number is 3 numbers on the first block and 7 on the next.
12 next
13 Enjoy

[davray666]

fabini, thanks for trying to help but if you read the earlier posts and follow the links in there. You will see that what you propose will not work.
At least not from Sweden.
I used the Canada app store and that worked fine.
So to be clear. The problem is solved.

[MrHogan]

I used the itunes method similar to those mentioned in the link below. I entered a fake us address (try apples own) and didn't need a credit card.

[davray666]

Well I said it already several times in the thread. That worked for me before but something has changed. Could be that accessing from Sweden and trying to open a US account is treated differently vs. doing it from other countries. Or maybe it's something else, I don't know.
What I do know is that Apple can choose to block this at any time and I would be surprised if they don't. It's BS that we have to discuss this at all. This is a Skytrak issue and has nothing to do with Apple regional DRM.

[MrHogan]

You already have a US apple account right? So you don't need to create one.
Your issue will not be related to being physically in sweden - im sure even Apple allow US citizens to take their ipads on vacation..

I don't see how its skytraks issue. They only sell in US and Canada.

[davray666]

We are discussing opinions here. My opinion is that even if Skytrak is only sold officially in the US and Canada. The app can still be available world wide since it's clear that some people (me included) will take the risk and buy it anyway. I can't see what the drawback would be for Skytrak to make life easier also for those customers.
Your opinion seams to be that Skytrak should ignore all customers that are not based in NorthAmerica. Not for any specific reason, but just because.
I guess we have to agree to disagree.
As for the Apple account discussion. I have nothing new to add, so I am just going to drop it.

[SkyTrak_Seth]

I don't see how its skytraks issue. They only sell in US and Canada.

This ^^^. Guys, the reason we were not able to open up directly out of the gate outside of US and Canada has nothing to do with our software. There are different hardware certifications that need to be met anywhere outside of the US and that takes a much longer time than you may think because some components are not compatible between 2 regions. We legally cannot sell it there. We realize the demand and the opportunity with have in Europe and other places and are doing everything in our power to get SkyTrak over there as soon as possible.

[MrHogan]

I wasn't complaining, just stating the bleeding obvious.

[davray666]

I understand that, but that has nothing to do with the iOS app availability. You can enable the app to be distributed world wide to service those customers that bought the unit even if they don't live in NA. That way sales will pick up at least with those customers that are willing to take the risk before the unit becomes available in EU for example.
It's a WIN/WIN for everybody.

[TurfWar]

It's a win for you but not for SkyTrak. If they cannot sell legally to the UK at present however make an iOS app available to the UK, one which has no use other than in conjunction with the hardware, then it all gets a bit fishy. If I had a company the last thing I'd do is mess with regulators. As you say, it was a risk to purchase in the manner you did. Not all risk taking gets rewarded. I Just hope your hardware is compatible with the UK app if/when it get's released given the region incompatability of certain components.

[davray666]

In real life it does not work like that. I know since I am a hardware and software engineer and build devices that are sold all over the world.
If you have several versions of 1 product you make the the app detect what unit is currently connected and deal with it in software. Doing it with multiple apps where you do 1 / region is way to complicated and expensive.
That is unless you want to separate it for commercial reasons like we see for Japan/Asia & NA. Maybe the EU will be a separate region for commercial reasons, and then I can understand that Rapsodo wants to restrict the app from spreading. But even in that case it would be easier to just have a regional code in the unit.
Since it seams impossible to get a straight answer I guess I will have to wait and see.

"It's a win for you but not for SkyTrak"
Well the fact that they got my money and could get more from others is definitely a win for Skytrak.