Set up push notifications for iOS

To set up push notifications for iOS devices, we must use the Apple Push Notification Service (APNS). To use APNS, we must be a registered Apple iOS Developer and obtain an Apple APNS certificate for the application.

Ensure that the following servers are accessible from MobileFirst Server:

• Sandbox servers:

  • gateway.sandbox.push.apple.com:2195

  • feedback.sandbox.push.apple.com:2196

• Production servers:

  • gateway.push.apple.com:2195

  • feedback.push.apple.com:2196

1. Follow the required steps to obtain the APNS certificate and password. See developerWorks article Understand and setting up artifacts required to use iOS devices and APNS in a development environment.

2. Place the Apple APNS certificate file at the root of the application folder, in which application-descriptor.xml is held.

3. Install the Entrust CA root certificate using SSL port 443.

   While you work in development mode, rename your certificate file to apns-certificate-sandbox.p12. When we move to production, rename the certificate file to apns-certificate-production.p12. In both cases, place the certificate file in the environment root folder or in the application root folder. When the hybrid application has both iPhone and iPad environments, separate certificates are necessary for push notification. In that case, place those certificates in the corresponding environment folders.

   The environment root folder takes the highest priority.

   See iOS Developer Library.

4. In application-descriptor.xml, for <iPhone> set the following attributes for the <pushsender> element:

   Attribute	Description
   password	The APNS certificate password received from Apple.

Results

Your push notification setup is now complete.

Parent topic: Set up push notifications