Correct way to poll server in background

Question

Assuming this is possible, I would like my iOS application, when backgrounded, to poll a server (i.e. essentially, retrieve the contents of a URL every 30 minutes and notify the

Answer 1

Assuming this is possible...

Unfortunately that's a faulty assumption(!).

You can't do it using the "multi tasking" on the iPhone, as it only allows certain kinds of background processing (GPS, VoIP, music). To do what you want you'll need to do the work on a server and use push notifications.