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Apple expands mobile device management program beyond USA

Wrangling iThings just got a whole lot easier for sysadmins

Apple has extended the reach of its Device Enrollment Program (DEP) beyond the USA and beyond end-users.

Apple says [PDF] the DEP “ simplifies initial setup by automating mobile device management (MDM) enrollment and supervision of devices during setup and enabling you to configure the devices without touching them.”

“Upon users activating their devices,” Apple explains, “you can immediately configure account settings, apps, and access to IT services over the air. There’s no need for staging services, and no need for you to physically access each device to complete the setup.”

All of which sounds very handy for those organisations deploying fleets of iThings. Until this week, however, only organisations in the USA were able to use DEP.

Apple quietly changed that restriction this week, as the DEP program is now available in a further 25 nations*. Apple also says “resellers and carriers” who handle its products can also now play with DEP.

VMware's MDM arm AirWatch was so chuffed by the move it squeezed out a post explaining the changes. And well it would: the many remote configuration options available under DEP need an MDM suite to drive them. Apple's change therefore means happy days for the likes of AirWatch. Carriers flogging big iThing shipments to business also now have the chance to start up iTMaaS – iThing Management-as-a-Service – offerings to wring some more cash out of their customers.

And Apple? It just made its wares more attractive to lots more businesses. With details of its IBM partnership rumoured to emerge rather soon, it's clear Cupertino is making a serious run at the business market.

That's a sensible thing to do given iPad sales are slowing and margins are generally better among business customers. If Apple can get a MaxiPad for business out the door any time soon, the company's push into business might start to look formidable. ®

*The new countries are Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

 

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