App launcher should use web URL, open in Box App, and encourage user to download Box App if not present.
I can create a link that will open the box app by using what is known as an applink. This technique is sometimes called Deep Linking.
'boxapp://' opens box on iOS or Android.
BUT traditionally this has left developers needing to try to catch and handle what happens when the Box app isn't already installed (which is also people's very first experience of the launcher app). This typically involves time-outs and other such messiness. By default if the app is not present, no helpful message is given. I note at present your html representation of content shows the 'get box app' and 'open in app' options but the client doesn't want people needing to choose.
Progressively in both Android and iOS, there is a strategy by which the authoritative owner of some Web content can choose for that to be associated with their app and the OS will transition from browser to app, downloading the app as necessary. The app becomes associated with specific domains and URI patterns (similar to a preferred app for opening specific file suffixes).
This latter approach is associated with labels like Intents and Universal Links. But it's not possible to set up the affinity for which box content is associated with the box app myself.. Only the owner of the boxapp and box content can do that. So I'm wondering is that just around the corner?
My Launcher app would be as simple as a regular Web URL linking to the box content, which would result in that content opening in the Box App, whereby the OS would ensure that the Box App installation Page from the store is shown, if the app is not yet available.
Corey Ghilarducci
shared this idea
Thank you for your thorough description!
We support deep linking and universal links on iOS. All regular Box links should with the Box app today as long as their app invokes universal links the right way (ex: redirects ignore universal links).