Using Map Packages (.mpk files) with the iOS Runtime

Question

Is it possible to load a map package (i.e a .mpk file) inside an app built using the iOS Runtime SDK? This post (on the Android runtime forum) suggest that it is: http://forums.arcgis.com/threads/58176-ArcGIS-Runtime-SDK-for-Android-and-The-mpk-format-file

I also seem to recall seeing mention of the mpk format in earlier versions of the iOS runtime documentation and/or possibly in a sample project. Was this capability removed from the iOS runtime?

EvanKirkwood · Accepted Answer

Just to close the loop on this - we followed up through our ESRI Partner Coordinator and an ESRI Technology Lead, and confirmed that map packages are not supported in the current iOS Runtime SDK (10.1.1). Except in the case of offline use, which ESRI seems to be working on, it makes more sense to get on-demand data from a service.

Offline use is exactly the use case we're supporting. As Dana suggests, the message from ESRI on enhancements to offline capability in the iOS Runtime SDK is essentially that it's in the works, but too early for details.