Apple on Thursday launchedJoint Venture , a new programme that offers personal training , specialized support , loaner Macs , and other agio services to clientele .
Joint Venture is similar to Apple ’s One to One service , but tailored for the needs of businesses . The program is available when purchasing a new Mac ; software start at supporting five systems for $ 499 per year . For that price , Apple Business Team staff office will help businesses get their Macs , iPads , and iPhones set up , including transferring information from microcomputer and instal any extra package buy from either Apple ’s retail or online stores .
Each of the five eligible systems can include a Mac , up to two Cinema Displays , one iPhone , one iPod , one iPad , and Apple - branded computer peripheral like a computer mouse , keyboard , trackpad , and a storage machine . Additional organization can be added to a Joint Venture account for a prorate fee free-base on the number of new systems and months leave behind in the current declaration . The maximal number of scheme Apple supports on a unmarried account is 100 , and you could append previously purchased system within 14 days of signing up for Joint Venture .
In addition , you may schedule up to three two - minute academic term of training for your employees at an Apple Store ( there ’s no mention of on - site training ) . Roger Huntington Sessions can cover theme like using the iPhone and iPad for business and how to make more engaging presentations with Keynote . Monthly workshops are available throughout the year to cover the basics of getting start with Apple ’s gadget , as well as to help IT department put up Apple products in business environments .
Joint Venture also offer a few premium reenforcement options not available to consumers . For example , members can speak to Apple Geniuses over the phone for general support or to check on part blood line and the position of a repair . If they bring Apple products into a store , the staff can be given nosology , system update , and even clean your keyboard and display . Plus , Apple will declare oneself a lender MacBook Pro or MacBook Air , laden with standard Mac OS X software program and Microsoft Office , while your business ’s machine is in the shop . Businesses also get a private Website to manage their Joint Venture accounts , including scheduling living requests , bestow team penis , and registering new system .
This is an interesting , though not entirely unexpected , move for Apple . The caller has made dramatic moves in the business realm of late , havingdiscontinued the Xserve last November , as well as announcing that the server features of Mac OS X Lion have been incorporated into the guest interpretation . When Lion ship this summertime , there will be just a single version available to purchase .
But the Mac , iPhone , and iPad are still steadily making their way into business organization , a trend largely bestow to their grassroots appeal . Apple COO Tim Cook , for example , is fond of citing the high share of prominent corporations that have adopted or piloted iOS devices . apply that appeal , it ’s only logical that the company is making a serious effort to facilitate small-scale - to - spiritualist businesses desegregate its inwardness product into their everyday operations .
