Installing .ipa files on devices

[Tuna]

My teammate (graphics guy James z) and I are trying to install an ipa on his new iPad 3, and on my iPhone 4 (away from xcode, using iTunes). Note: We're doing this because we live on opposite sides of town, and we can't drive to test every new compile.

Some facts:

• xCode 4.5 on Mountain Lion 10.8.1
• I have added the UDID of his iPad 3 to the provisioning profile (prior to building the archive in xcode)
• I can install the game via xCode (to my iPhone 4 and to my iPod touch 4th gen)
• iPhone is running IOS 6 (i assume but cannot guarantee that is the case for the iPad 3)
• i have exported the provisioning profile and provided it to James
• iPad 3 is not in my possession and James does not have a mac (no xCode connection possible)

Steps being taken (for iPad 3):
Found info on internet saying the provisioning profile needs to be on the device, so i sent that .mobileprovision file to James as well. iTunes says the file already on the computer and asks if he wants to replace it. Does the same thing to me on my iTunes (on the mac) but on windows it rejects my efforts to add the file to iTunes (cursor changes to international symbol for no).

From xCode with no devices attached, I set output to IOS Device, then navigated to the archive menu option and saw a successful build of the ipa file. I transferred the ipa file to our dropbox folder where James picks up the file and drops it to iTunes on his laptop with the iPad 3 attached. He can see the 10.1 megabyte ipa file in the "apps" window on iTunes. iTunes is set to Sync Apps, and when Sync starts, it lists 7 steps. It hangs on step 2 and never seems to progress (this is the backup step). We gave up at midnight last night after waiting at least an hour, probably more.

Steps being taken to sync to iPhone 4:
(again without using xcode)

On my windows 7 machine, I'm running iTunes and I can see my iPhone 4. I drop the .ipa file to iTunes and it accepts it. When I sync the app to the phone, it kicks up an error on the iphone that says 2677 failed to install. iTunes gives no info about any issues.

Has anyone out there had any luck using ipa files from xCode 4.5 on Mountain Lion? Googled for help, but EVERYTHING out there seems to be about installing cracked files on jailbroken devices and is totally useless for legitimate purposes. I apologize for the size of this post, but i wanted to provide as much detail as possible.

Thanks for looking!

[Olivier]

I've checked the TestFlight website some time ago and I think that their FAQ can help you: http://help.testflightapp.com/. I've never used their service though.

[Tuna]

Thanks Olivier, actually, that's great info but according to the info, i'm doing everything right. I'll keep trying.

[RhysD]

Testflight is the easiest way to do what you are after. It automatically handles provisioning profiles when users register their device to the Testflight service.

All you need to do is make sure their UDID is in the testing profile that is being attached when you build your App in ADHOC mode through xCode.

You then upload the IPA file to Testflight and check the box that lets the users know that a new build is ready. It should send them an email and they should be able to install the app with no problems.

[Tuna]

Thanks, RhysD...

We were able to get it working last night, but I still intend to use TestFlight going forward, as I keep hearing how great it is from other people...

Regards!