Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy explains how Apala Cloud ("we", "us", "our") collects, uses, shares and protects information when you use the Apala Cloud mobile app and the web platform at apalacloud.com (together, the "Service"). The Service lets you monitor and manage solar and hybrid inverter installations, set up Wi‑Fi dongles, and view energy data.
1. Information we collect
Information you give us
- Account details: first and last name, email address, password, and optionally phone number, address, date of birth and gender.
- Profile photo: if you choose to upload one.
- Plant and device details: plant names, addresses, map location (latitude and longitude), photos of your installation if you upload them, and the serial numbers and settings of your inverters and dongles.
Information collected automatically
- Energy telemetry: readings sent by your dongle and inverter, such as power, voltage, current, energy totals, battery status and fault codes.
- Consent records: which versions of our Terms and Privacy Policy you accepted and when, together with the IP address and browser or app identifier (user agent) used at that time.
- Sign-in activity: the time of your most recent sign-in.
Information used on your device only
- Location: during dongle setup, the app reads the name of the Wi‑Fi network your phone is connected to, which Android and iOS only allow with location permission. This network name is not sent to us.
- Precise location for plant setup: when you tap to use your current location while adding a plant, the app gets your GPS position and sends it to OpenStreetMap's Nominatim service to look up the address. The coordinates and address are then saved with the plant.
- Camera: used only to scan QR codes on devices. Camera images are not stored or uploaded.
- Photos: the app only accesses the photos you pick, for a profile or plant picture.
- Home Wi‑Fi credentials: when you set up or update a dongle, the Wi‑Fi name and password you enter are sent directly from your phone to the dongle over its local setup hotspot. They are not sent to our servers.
The app does not contain advertising, and does not use third-party analytics or tracking SDKs.
2. How we use information
- To create and secure your account and sign you in.
- To show live and historical energy data, charts, alarms and reports for your plants.
- To register, set up and update your devices, including firmware updates.
- To send service emails, such as password reset messages.
- To provide support, keep the Service reliable and secure, and prevent misuse.
- To meet legal and regulatory obligations.
3. How information is shared
We do not sell your personal information. We share it only in these cases:
- Your installer, distributor or organisation: the Service is used by installers, distributors and company administrators. Depending on their role, the people who installed or manage your system can see your account details, plants, devices and energy data.
- Government and regulatory portals: authorised government or regulatory portals can check whether a dongle or inverter serial number is registered, and can retrieve daily solar generation figures for an inverter. This is used, for example, for subsidy or grid programmes.
- Service providers: we use Amazon Web Services to host the Service and store uploaded images, and an email provider to deliver service emails. They process data only on our behalf.
- OpenStreetMap Nominatim: receives GPS coordinates when you use your current location to fill in a plant address, as described above.
- Legal reasons: when required by law, or to protect the rights, safety and security of our users and the Service.
4. Where information is stored
Our servers and file storage are hosted on Amazon Web Services in the Asia Pacific (Mumbai) region, India.
5. Security
All communication between the app or browser and our servers is encrypted with HTTPS. Sign-in tokens on your phone are kept in the operating system's secure storage, and access to data is limited by role. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, but we work to protect your information.
6. How long we keep information
We keep your information for as long as your account is active. When we process a request to delete your account, your personal information is deleted or anonymised, except for records we must keep to meet legal, tax, security or fraud-prevention obligations.
7. Deleting your account
You can ask us to delete your account at any time:
- In the app: open Profile and tap Request Account Deletion.
- By email: write to support@apalacloud.com from the email address you sign in with.
Your account stays active until we have verified and processed the request, and we will confirm by email once it is done. Full details are on our account deletion page. If your account was created for you by an installer, distributor or administrator, you can also ask them to request deletion for you.
8. Your choices and rights
You can view and update your profile details in the app or on the web, change your password, and delete your account. Depending on where you live, you may have further rights, such as asking for a copy of your data or asking us to correct it. To make a request, contact us using the details below.
9. Children
The Service is not directed to children under 16, and we do not knowingly collect their personal information.
10. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy. When we do, we change the effective date above, and for significant changes we may ask you to review and accept the new version in the app.
11. Contact us
For privacy questions or requests, contact Apala Cloud at support@apalacloud.com.