Note: This article only applies to communities that have implemented the mobile app experience.

Google Play service is blocked in China. This impacts your options for distributing an Android mobile app to your members in China.

Currently, there are no known issues with iOS mobile app access via the iOS App Store. Users in China can download either the Firstup mobile app or customized mobile app from the iOS App Store. 

For related information about Firstup services, including our ability to send Android push notifications, see the article: Firstup Services Availability in China.

Firstup Mobile App

If you implemented the multi-tenant Firstup mobile app, you do not need to take any special action to provide access to your Android users in China. People in China can download the Firstup CN Android mobile app from here.

Customized Mobile App

If you implemented a single-tenant customized mobile app, you can still use the iOS App Store to distribute it to users in China. However, you cannot use Google Play to distribute the custom Android mobile app to users in China. 

You have two options for distributing a mobile app to Android users in China. For assistance with implementing either option, please get in touch with your Customer Success Manager.

1. Implement the Firstup Mobile App for Android Users in China (Recommended)

We strongly recommend distributing the Firstup mobile app to your Android users in China instead of the customized mobile app. This will ensure the best mobile app experience for Android users in China and not impact your custom mobile app distribution to other users.

Please take a look at the Firstup Mobile App above for how this distribution option works.

2. You Directly Distribute the Custom Android Mobile App (Known Limitations)

Directly distributing the Android mobile app has technical limitations, including, but not limited to, deep links not opening in the mobile app. To avoid these known issues, see option 1 above.

If you accept that there will be technical limitations, Firstup can provide you with the customized Android mobile app file (APK). You can then directly distribute the APK file to Android users in China. Some possible options for how you might distribute an APK file directly to Android users in China include the following:

• MDM (Mobile Device Management) deployment
• Intranet page with downloadable APK file

Android developer documentation provides some details about direct Android mobile app distribution.