How to handle private sign key when licensing an app

[moster67]

I have nearly completed an app for a company who will publish the app under their name on Android Market. They will later perhaps publish other apps written by other developers.

Our agreement is that I am only licensing them the application i.e. I am not giving away the source-code. I only pass them on the apk.

I am not 100% sure but I believe that there is no need for me to create a special Private Sign Key and sign the application with this key since if there are any modifications to do with the app, I will always be the one doing the same (since I have the sources). Is this correct? Or would it be better to create a new Private Sign Key anyway?

The company asked this also in view of the fact, that they will probably publish other apps but written by other developers and they wondered if all developers working for them must use same Private Sign Key or not? I believe the Private Sign Key is more related to a singular application because if you loose it, you cannot update the same anymore using same name.

Any input on this since I am not sure? Thanks!

 

[Erel]

Each application can have its own private signing key. There is no relation between different applications of the same developer.

You can either use your existing key or create a new one for this application specifically. Make sure to backup this file!

 

[moster67]

Thanks Erel.

Then I think I will go on using my own Key.