Early in the game, Apple took advantage of its Volume Purchase Program (VPP) to allow Business and Education customers to buy iPhone and iPad apps carried on the App Store in bulk and with volume discounts.
Following the free OS X Mavericks update earlier in the month, the company has now updated VPP rules to include Mac App Store apps as well. With this change, Education and Business customers can for the first time buy Mac apps in volume.
In addition, the company has introduced a new Managed Distribution feature for iOS 7 and Mavericks devices which lets businesses and education institutions easily assign and revoke app licenses to individual users. Previously, these high-value customers had to rely on redemption codes to distribute software in bulk…
On Managed Distribution:
With managed distribution, organizations retain ownership and control of apps purchased through VPP. They can assign apps and books to users and groups through a mobile device management (MDM) solution, and they can revoke and reassign the apps as needed. After they assign books, the user retains ownership of the books.
With this feature, assigned apps get downloaded automatically to supervised device after the user confirms the prompt, as depicted on the screenie top right. Additionally, each user must have a personal Apple ID to use apps and books assigned through managed distribution.
MacRumors has Apple’s email communiqué to the registered iOS and Mac devs:
Hello Education Technologists,
I wanted to be sure to send this information regarding another part of the iOS 7 and Mavericks updates to become available. There is a guide available as well for more detail. As I’ve discussed with many of you, it’s now time to consider a Mobile Device Management Solution (MDM) moving forward.
Volume Purchase Program for Business and Education:
New features available.
The Volume Purchase Program (VPP) for Business and Education has been updated to support iOS 7 and OS X Mavericks. It now features:
– Managed distribution—Install and assign apps using Profile Manager on OS X Server or third-party mobile device management (MDM) solutions
– Mac apps—Now available on the VPP store
The VPP pages on Apple.com have updated program information, including direct links to enrollment and program login for registered participants.
Apple’s support document describes migrating from redemption codes to managed distribution in finer detail.
Those who previously purchased redemption codes through VPP can request to migrate the unredeemed codes for use with managed distribution. Incidentally, VPP participants still have a choice between using managed distribution or redeemable codes.
Apple last month started allowing developers to discount bulk purchases. Managed distribution requires iOS 7 or OS X Mavericks devices so legacy hardware can’t be assigned apps or books through managed distribution using a mobile device management solution.