App Control is where you submit your app. Be prepared for the submission process with the following completed documents:
FirstNet Verified Submission Package:
- FirstNet Verified Checklist
- AAB or IPA packages
- App screenshots
- Video optimizer report (optional)
Note: FirstNet Verified category does not require a security scan report to be submitted.
FirstNet CertifiedTM Submission Package:
- FirstNet CertifiedTM Checklist
- AAB or IPA packages
- App screenshots
- Source code security scan report
- Video optimizer report (optional)
The App Control submission form allows you to save information at any point and return later, so feel free to go to App Control and familiarize yourself with the form now.
App Control is also where you monitor and manage your app.
App Control’s My Apps page displays the latest information about your apps, including:
- Ratings and Reviews
- Number of Downloads
- Current version in the App Catalog
- Draft versions
- Metadata for previous versions
- Apps removed from the App Catalog
You can conveniently manage your app here by:
- Creating, editing, or deleting drafts
- Creating a new version from an existing version (Copy)
- Withdrawing unreleased versions
- Removing an app from the App Catalog
What if I need to update an app I’ve already submitted?
To update an app from a version that is under review:
You may only have one version of an app in the FirstNet App Review process at a time. If you would like to submit a new version of an app that currently has a version in the FirstNet App Review process, then you must first withdraw the version that is under review.
To update an app from an approved version that has not yet been released
If you have an app that has been approved but not released, you may submit an update of that app without withdrawing the one that has been approved. Once the newer version of the app has been approved, the older version can be withdrawn.
To update an app from a live version in the App Catalog
When a new version of an app that is currently live in the App Catalog is approved and released, the previous version is made inactive and will no longer be available in the App Catalog.
Purpose
The App Catalog is exclusively for the public safety community. The purpose of the FirstNet App Review process is to ensure that only public safety relevant applications that are robust and highly secure are listed on and distributed from the FirstNet App Catalog.
The FirstNet App Review process provides governance for apps submitted to the App Catalog. Any apps submitted to the App Catalog must undergo multiple reviews and testing before the app is listed on the store. This includes:
- Verifying accuracy of submission data and approving the content that will be displayed on the App Catalog.
- Verifying that the app complies with the FirstNet Guidelines for Development
- Verifying that submitted apps adhere to the security standards and data privacy guidelines defined in the FirstNet Guidelines for Development
FirstNet Verified
All apps must go through the FirstNet Verified review process in order to be listed in the App Catalog. This process assesses the app's relevance to the public safety community and includes a series of basic quality assessments to review that the app is stable, secure, efficiently uses device resources, and complies with applicable data privacy requirements. It also assesses the app's compliance with the basic service level expectations for an app defined in the FirstNet Guidelines for Development.
The FirstNet App Review process begins once you submit all required documents in App Control. The FirstNet Verified review will take approximately four weeks.
FirstNet Certification
Developers can apply for their apps to become FirstNet CertifiedTM. Certification entails a more rigorous assessment of the app, focusing on additional quality areas of importance for public safety including availability, scalability, and resiliency. Additionally, security and service level requirements are higher.
FirstNet CertifiedTM apps are displayed in the App Catalog with a certification mark on the app summary card and on the app details page to indicate that the app has met a higher level of quality and service requirements.
The FirstNet App Review process begins once your app submission in is complete with all relevant reports and artifacts attached. FirstNet certification will take approximately 6-7 weeks.
Requesting an Expedited Review
There are only two instances in which an expedited review may be approved:
- If your app responds to an immediate public safety need.
- If your app is cross-listed, and the version in the App Catalog is outdated.
If an app is under expedited review, all apps under review for approval will experience delayed approval times.
You may request an expedited review using the Contact Us feature at the bottom of the page. Include the name of your app and the reason why you are requesting an expedited review. Requests for expedited reviews will be reviewed by the FirstNet App Review Board.
Compare FirstNet CertifiedTM to FirstNet Verified
| Assessment | FirstNet CertifiedTM | FirstNet Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Relevancy | Yes | Yes |
| Availability | Yes | Yes |
| Scalability | Yes | No |
| Resiliency | Yes | No |
| Data Privacy | Yes | Yes |
| Resource Usage | Yes | No |
| Security | Yes | Yes |
What if my app is rejected?
If your app submission is rejected by the FirstNet App Review process, you will be notified by email and provided with a summary of the specific reasons and deficiencies that led to the rejection. You can address the reasons for rejection and resubmit your app.
If, after reviewing the findings of the FirstNet App Review Board and Evaluation Teams, you believe those findings are in error, you may initiate a contest of the decision using the Contact Us feature. Please include your app name and the reasons you disagree with the decision. The FirstNet App Review Board will review your contest within 10 business days.
What happens if my app is approved?
If the app submission is approved by the FirstNet App Review process, you will be notified via email. Your app will be released to the App Catalog on the release date specified in your submission. If that date has already passed, it will be released to the App Catalog immediately upon approval.
Emergency Review by FirstNet
If at any time FirstNet determines that there is a security vulnerability with the app or that the developer has violated any of the Developer Agreement Terms & Conditions for a Developer, FirstNet reserves the right to remove your app from the App Catalog. In the case of a critical security breach or product defect, the removal may be immediate.
All notifications and correspondence about the reason(s) for removal and a notification of the pending or actual removal will be communicated by email from the FirstNet store administrator.
If an app is under emergency review, all apps under review for approval will experience delayed approval timelines.
Your Expert Review Team
The FirstNet App Review Team is a multidisciplinary group responsible for App Catalog governance and administration, and includes four sub-teams:
- Public Safety Review Team
- Technical Review Team
- Mobile Application Security Team
- Administration
Withdrawing Your App from Review
Whether you want to withdraw an app that is under review, or an app that is approved and pending release, simply go to the App Detail page in App Control and select “Withdraw.”
If you want to update an app or app update that has a version approved and pending release, you also withdraw the app. You can then use the Copy functionality to create a new draft of your app, edit the submission forms and resubmit to the FirstNet App Review process.