App/Service Provider Partnership
Do you have an app, service or product that’s a perfect fit for one of SMILE'S data passes? We’re always on the hunt for new partners, and we want to hear from you.
Any content or service provider can join a smile pass as long as it fits into one of the pass definitions below and meets our technical and legal requirements.
Our new SMILE passes give customers access to your app without using up their data. They’ll be covered by our Smile Pass Data Packs, so they can use it as much as they want at no extra cost.
Is it a match?
To partner with us, your app or service must match one of our four categories. These correspond to SMILE's Pass Packs, which give customers use of different types of apps, websites and their content without using their data.
Social
Customers mainly use the app/service to create, maintain or develop social connections, network and share content within a personal community. Types of shared content are mixed, covering websites, text, photo, music or video.
Examples: Facebook, Twitter
Chat & communicate
Customers mainly use the app/service to communicate one to one or to a closed group by text/picture/ voice/video messages or through voice or video with online calls. Contents are mainly text and pictures.
Examples: WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger
Music
Customers mainly use the app/service to listen, find and stream audio music content.
Examples: Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud
Video
Customers mainly use the app/service to search and watch streaming videos or to upload video content. Examples: Netflix, Amazon Video
Examples: Netflix, Amazon Video
How it works.
We need a way to identify your app or service
Smile's techie team will need to identify your service on our network so we can classify it as one of the services included in our Smile Paks offer.
We do this based on the parameters of how your service is delivered. This can be as simple as identifying the domain used for your service (e.g. www.yourservice.com), or the IP addresses of the servers delivering it (e.g. 10.1.1.1). The important point is that these parameters must allow your service to be uniquely identified.
We don’t need to know anything about what your customers are actually sending or receiving while using your service - we only need to identify the specific packets of data belonging to your service so we can assign them to the correct service pass.
Keep us up to date on changes to your app or service
Once we have this technical information we’ll work with you to accurately identify your service. As well as getting this right at the start, it’s important that you tell us about any future changes to your technical information, so we can incorporate these and customers continue to enjoy the best service possible.
Becoming a partner.
Matched with one of our categories? Nice one - you can apply to partner with SMILE.
Here’s the process.
Submit application
1. You’ll apply by uploading basic info about your app/service/product.
2. You’ll accept the app content restriction terms set by Smile.
3. We’ll check your application, based on the requirements mentioned.
4. If it’s accepted, we’ll get in touch to agree which category your app fits into
5. We’ll both sign a partnership agreement to work together.
Testing
6. We’ll ask you for all the technical info we need to test your app.
7. We’ll ask you for all the info we need to recognise third party app content.
8. As part of the testing process we’ll test whether points 6 and 7 have been met.
Publication
9. Your app will be included in the next SMILE rollout/release
10. We’ll agree on any use of your brand with Smile Packs.
11. You’ll provide any tech support needed when you join the Smile lineup, as according to our agreement.
FAQ
What types of app can join the SMILE lineup?
As long as your app, service or product fits into one or more of our categories it can join SMILE.
It also needs to meet our legal and technical requirements.
How do you categorise apps?
We currently have four core categories for apps: social, chat & communicate, music and video.
Categories are defined by general customer perception of the app, key functionalities of its service and by the most common patterns of use.
Can the category apps listed change?
Yes. SMILE reserves the right to change the list of apps in our categories.
What if my app doesn’t fall into a specific category?
Don’t let that stop you :-)
If your app doesn’t fit any of the existing categories, please apply anyway. We can introduce new categories in the future.
My app features premium content – will this also benefit from smile pass packs?
Only data use directly associated with the app or website is covered by SMILE’s endless data for passes. If your app acts as a platform for content, it has to be hosted by you – any externally hosted content won’t be covered by smiles pass packs and will instead come out of a customer’s data allowance if they open it.
If your app or service is based on a subscription or one off payment, customers will still need to pay you for that as normal.
Why has my application been rejected?
Sorry to hear your app didn’t make the cut this time.
Apps are rejected if they don’t fit any of our categories, or don’t meet our basic tech and legal requirements.
How long does testing last?
The time needed for testing depends on the complexity of your app. We’ll give you a rough estimate of how long we’ll need when we get to the testing stage.
How do I apply to partner with SMILE?
If you’d like your app to join the SMILE lineup, please fill in the form at the bottom of this page.
Data traffic
Will all traffic associated with apps be covered by endless data?
Only data stored and transferred from the servers of the app owner is covered by Smile’s Pass Packs and excluded from the customer’s own data traffic. Any data that’s not stored on the partner servers will still use the customer’s data allowance - for example, if a video is hosted on a different platform.
What happens if a customer runs out of data on their SMILE plan?
If a customer runs out of data on their plan, the use of passes will also stop.
This is because customers must have at least some 250mb data left for pass packs to work.
Partners
How can my app be part of the SMILE lineup?
Anyone can apply to have their app, service or product partner with Smile.
Apps must match at least one of our categories and meet the main tech and legal requirements. You’ll need to sign our standard terms and conditions as well.
Who will manage customer care?
All customer handling tasks linked to SMILE’S passes will be managed by SMILE, while the customer care tasks linked to the operation of your app or service will be managed by you.
EMAIL: levi.clarke@networksmile.co.uk if you would like to apply for an application pack