X-13 Posted July 2, 2015 Posted July 2, 2015 I've just been handed 2 iPads [along with the Iris Connect stuff] to set up. The app it needs doesn't come preloaded and we don't have an Apple ID. Considering that we have a few staff with iPhones, is it worth trying to get VPP and the Apple configurator stuff sorted? Also how long does it usually take?
itguy22 Posted July 2, 2015 Posted July 2, 2015 I think even if you are not going to use Apple VPP for this particular job it is worth getting set up. The Apple VPP application process can take anywhere from 2 days to a week or so. It is fairly straightforward to use. Just read everything carefully and setup separate Apple IDs for the VPP. The next step once your application has been approved is to set up a payment method, they offer credit cards/click and buy account. I think they may also have recently introduced Purchase Orders for schools? Not sure on this one! Once the application has been accepted and it is setup it is all reasonably easy to manager. Just remember if you are using configurator to take regular backups of the Mac that it is running on, all your activation details for apps are stored locally on the MAC!! Hope this helps!
OkayiDave Posted July 2, 2015 Posted July 2, 2015 I think even if you are not going to use Apple VPP for this particular job it is worth getting set up. The Apple VPP application process can take anywhere from 2 days to a week or so. It is fairly straightforward to use. Just read everything carefully and setup separate Apple IDs for the VPP. The next step once your application has been approved is to set up a payment method, they offer credit cards/click and buy account. I think they may also have recently introduced Purchase Orders for schools? Not sure on this one! Once the application has been accepted and it is setup it is all reasonably easy to manager. Just remember if you are using configurator to take regular backups of the Mac that it is running on, all your activation details for apps are stored locally on the MAC!! Hope this helps! You are correct about the purchase orders. VPP does have discounts on some apps if you are buying in bulk (10+) but this is not universal unfortunately. I tend to only use configurator to get the wireless details and enroll them on our MDM solution (lightspeed) which I then push the apps from, no plugging iPads into the mac like some kind of savage. Probably not such a big deal with 2, but with 50 in total its a lot easier for me.
itguy22 Posted July 2, 2015 Posted July 2, 2015 You are correct about the purchase orders. VPP does have discounts on some apps if you are buying in bulk (10+) but this is not universal unfortunately. I tend to only use configurator to get the wireless details and enroll them on our MDM solution (lightspeed) which I then push the apps from, no plugging iPads into the mac like some kind of savage. Probably not such a big deal with 2, but with 50 in total its a lot easier for me. Yes, forgot to mention that bit! We would love to use a MDM but unfortunately our ISP blocks a lot! If buying multiple devices a good quality metal charge and sync trolley is advisable too!!
X-13 Posted July 2, 2015 Author Posted July 2, 2015 I tend to only use configurator to get the wireless details and enroll them on our MDM solution (lightspeed) which I then push the apps from, no plugging iPads into the mac like some kind of savage. Lightspeed MDM? I thought Apple had their own one? ...is this another thing I need to look into? [before remembering I'm "leaving" soon and don't really care] Probably not such a big deal with 2, but with 50 in total its a lot easier for me. 2... for now. When the new HT rolls up with an iPhone and brand new Macbook, I know which way the wind is blowing.
OkayiDave Posted July 2, 2015 Posted July 2, 2015 Lightspeed MDM? I thought Apple had their own one? ...is this another thing I need to look into? [before remembering I'm "leaving" soon and don't really care] 2... for now. When the new HT rolls up with an iPhone and brand new Macbook, I know which way the wind is blowing. Can manage other devices not just apple which is nice. Also I find it nice and easy to use deploying apps/policies to all devices takes seconds provided the iPad is on. Only real pain is I have had to set up each iPad with its own ID. So my Apple email only has 50 aliases attached to it.
rich_tech Posted July 2, 2015 Posted July 2, 2015 VPP is worth setting up and it isn't really from doing it here, depends how much you rely on MDM, we are setup for it, its a bit of rigmarole, in that they will want to speak to your HT at the school to confirm your authorisation to order apple products for the school and so on, once your setup it pretty much doesnt do much. In terms of the main thing though that people seek it out for - the price breaks - though most apps that do offer an app only offer it on volume of 20 or more, which when you want a single copy of iMovie doesnt become effective.
OkayiDave Posted July 2, 2015 Posted July 2, 2015 VPP is worth setting up and it isn't really from doing it here, depends how much you rely on MDM, we are setup for it, its a bit of rigmarole, in that they will want to speak to your HT at the school to confirm your authorisation to order apple products for the school and so on, once your setup it pretty much doesnt do much. In terms of the main thing though that people seek it out for - the price breaks - though most apps that do offer an app only offer it on volume of 20 or more, which when you want a single copy of iMovie doesnt become effective. Depending on age can get it completely free. (Sauce)
Pyroman Posted July 3, 2015 Posted July 3, 2015 (edited) Search for my posts concerning the VPP, you'll find a lot of information (and a lot of ranting!). You can use purchase orders to buy credit for VPP from KRCS in the UK, not with Apple directly. You can either use an MDM and have all the iPads have their own apple ID but what I do here is not use Apple IDs and just use configurator to push out all the Apps using a sync station Edited July 3, 2015 by Pyroman
DGardiner Posted July 3, 2015 Posted July 3, 2015 (edited) Search for my posts concerning the VPP, you'll find a lot of information (and a lot of ranting!). You can use purchase orders to buy credit for VPP from KRCS in the UK, not with Apple directly. You can either use an MDM and have all the iPads have their own apple ID but what I do here is not use Apple IDs and just use configurator to push out all the Apps using a sync station whilst true, we have corporate credit/debit cards that can be used to buy stuff on VPP so you don't have to put £100 on to buy £20 in apps(i think 100 used to be the smallest top up, this may have changed however), our finance person would never agree to putting money into apples bank account until we decide to spend it all the syncing of them to one laptop is cool, and works at first but becomes a nightmare when you have loads of iPads imo... we have the backbone and a cache server to push from the App Store luckily. I did read somewhere that apple will be allowing you to push apps to hardware IDs soon so you don't need to use apple ids and i can't wait for that to turn up http://www.macrumors.com/2015/03/06/ipad-education-deployment-changes/ Edited July 3, 2015 by DGardiner added link
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