# Custom App Hosting

### Overview

Custom App Hosting defines who owns, deploys, and operates the customer-facing web and mobile applications.

* **What it is:** hosting ownership for the customer-facing **web** and **mobile app** layer
* **Why teams use it:** align **deployment**, **releases**, and **operational ownership**
* **Who it is for:** brand teams responsible for **digital operations**, **release management**, and **support readiness**

### At a glance

It applies to:

* **Web** browser experience
* Mobile apps on **iOS** and **Android**

It does **not** affect backend ownership.

Reach continues to own and operate:

* **Core platform services**
* **APIs**
* **Billing, provisioning, and system logic**

{% hint style="info" %}
Unless explicitly agreed otherwise, all brands launch under a Reach-hosted model.
{% endhint %}

### Hosting models

#### Reach-hosted

Reach owns and operates the front-end applications.

* **Deployment** is managed by Reach
* Releases follow **shared platform release cycles**
* **Monitoring, uptime, and incident handling** are managed by Reach
* Updates are aligned with **platform-wide changes**

#### Brand-hosted

The front end is deployed and operated independently.

Full ownership includes:

* **Deployment**
* **Release management**
* **Monitoring and uptime**

Integration with Reach **backend APIs** remains unchanged.

This model requires **operational readiness** on the brand side.

### Typical use cases

* Fastest launch with minimal operational overhead
* Existing web or app platform already in place
* Need for an independent release cadence
* Preference for Reach-managed operations

### When each model is used

| Scenario                                      | Recommended model |
| --------------------------------------------- | ----------------- |
| Fastest launch with minimal overhead          | Reach-hosted      |
| Existing web or app platform already in place | Brand-hosted      |
| Need for an independent release cadence       | Brand-hosted      |
| Preference for managed operations             | Reach-hosted      |

### Ownership boundary

| Layer                      | Ownership                      |
| -------------------------- | ------------------------------ |
| Frontend, web and app UI   | Reach or Brand, based on model |
| Backend services           | Reach                          |
| APIs and integrations      | Reach                          |
| Billing and provisioning   | Reach                          |
| App store presence, mobile | Configurable                   |

### Scope

#### Included

* Definition of the **hosting and release ownership model**
* Clear **responsibility split** across teams
* Operational alignment across:
  * **deployment**
  * **release**
  * **escalation**

#### Not included

* Changes to **backend ownership**
* **Net-new custom front-end builds**
* Functional changes to the mobile app beyond **configuration**

### Mobile app in the Reach-hosted model

Reach can create and publish a **brand-specific instance** of the standard mobile application.

#### What this means

* **Core app functionality** remains unchanged
* **Stability and performance** are maintained
* Only **branding and configuration layers** are customized

### Mobile app setup flow

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

#### App instance creation

A **dedicated instance** is created from the shared app framework.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Branding application

Supported branding includes:

* **Logo**
* **Colors**
* **Banners**
* **Supported UI components**

The brand provides:

* **Final assets**
* **Brand guidelines**
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### App store ownership

Publishing can be done under:

* **Reach developer account**
* **Brand developer account**
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Store listing preparation

This includes:

* **App icon**
* **Screenshots**
* **Feature graphics**
* **Store descriptions**

Ownership is shared across **design from Reach** and **content from the brand**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Marketing and communication readiness

Prepare go-live communication, including:

* **App store links**
* **Email or API-driven messaging**
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Submission and review

Reach submits the app after approval.

Typical review timeline: **4–7 business days**, depending on platform.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

### Release and change management

#### Reach-hosted

* Releases follow the **shared cadence**
* Changes are bundled with **platform updates**

#### Brand-hosted

* Releases are controlled **independently**
* Coordination is required for **backend dependencies**

### Key considerations

Hosting model impacts:

* **Release speed**
* **Operational ownership**
* **Support model**

Brand-hosted requires:

* **Monitoring capability**
* **Incident response setup**
* **Defined on-call ownership**

Functional changes to mobile apps require **separate scoping**.

### Brand inputs

* Preferred **hosting model** and rationale
* Surfaces in scope:
  * **Web**
  * **iOS**
  * **Android**
* **Target launch timeline**
* **Desired release cadence**
* Operational readiness, if brand-hosted:
  * **Monitoring**
  * **Support**
  * **Incident response**
  * **On-call contacts**
* Constraints:
  * **Domains**
  * **App store ownership**
  * **Release approvals**
* **Designated approval owner**

### Requesting this bolt-on

For the standard request process, commercial notes, and support, see [Bolt-ons catalog](/customizations-and-bolt-ons/bolt-ons-catalog.md).

### Technical details

For the implementation-specific setup details, visit: [App set-up technical details](https://reachplatform.gitbook.io/reachplatform-docs/technical/~/revisions/b3C3M4tkkLMyqmMcGAsL/bolt-on-setup/custom-app-hosting)

{% hint style="info" %}
Questions or clarification? Reach out to your respective account manager or email us at <accounts@reachmobile.com> for help and support.
{% endhint %}


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