I have finished an iOS app for the company I work. I have a paid app store account for my own particular apps.
The company wants to distribute this app to zillions of their customers without paying anything to Apple.
Their idea: we will distribute it by using MDM.
Will this work?
Will an app that is simply installed on their test device work if they copy the binary image of that device using MDM to other devices? I don't think so.
As far as I know you first have to create a signed IPA for distribution, using a paid account. They think they can simply install the app on the device using Xcode and they copy the device's binary image to other devices.
What do you guys think?
I don't think using MDM will work. Check out this page:
https://support.apple.com/guide/mdm/mdm-overview-mdmbf9e668/web
You can then wirelessly distribute, manage, and configure apps and books purchased through Apple School Manager or Apple Business Manager.
AFAIK you still need to enroll in the Apple Developer Program (where the $99 per year comes from) to publish to those channels.