Slash Lane
Apple Education informed customers of the new program on its mailing list this week. It allows qualified institutions to purchase apps for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch in volume, and then distribute that software to users.
The new program allows educational institutions to purchase multiple copies of the same application at once, and it also gives developers the opportunity to discount software when purchased in bulk.
The new offering from Apple comes after some schools have started to require that students who enroll own an iPhone or iPod touch. Even Apple's recently launched iPad has also found success in higher education as a learning tool.
Institutions can now buy mobile applications by purchasing a "Volume Voucher" from the Apple Store for Education. The vouchers can be bought in denominations ranging from $100 to $10,000. The program will also allow purchase orders and other payment options, and will recognize the tax status of the institution and bill accordingly.
Once the volume vouchers are received, they can be given to the Program Facilitator, a new account type that allows individuals — such as a dean, a professor, a school principal or a teacher — to redeem vouchers through the program.
Purchasing software through the App Store Volume Purchase Program will result in the facilitator being sent an e-mail with app-specific codes, one code per license. End-users, such as students or faculty with an iOS device, can then redeem the codes in the same manner in which users redeem a gift card on the App Store.
The Volume Purchase Program also includes an optional, separate agreement that allows institutions to use one or more iTunes accounts to sync multiple iOS devices. Using this, an institution can set up devices with generic iTunes accounts and control what apps are available on a device.
More information on Apple's new Volume Purchase Program for the App Store is available in a list of frequently asked questions on the official site.
Amber Neely
Malcolm Owen
Mike Wuerthele
Christine McKee
William Gallagher
13 Comments
Seems reasonable - what is the discount? Does Apple eat it or is it shared with the developer?
If only there were more desirable/useful 'educational' titles available for iOS devices.
Maybe Soon...
A device as snappy as an iPad means there's less time waiting on the device, and more time learning from what's on the screen lol
Seems reasonable - what is the discount? Does Apple eat it or is it shared with the developer?
As I understand it, developers have to choose to be a part of the program and which of their apps is included. It is not for all apps across the board. And the discount is apparently as much as 50%. That might be across the board or might be something the developer can pick. Or even perhaps a scaling like 30% for up to X codes, 40% of you get x+1 to Y or 50% for Y+1 to Z.
Since the developers opt in they would share in the reduced earnings. So say an app was normally $1 and now it is 50 cents. They would get 70% of the 50 and Apple gets the other 30%
To be honest I suspect that the only folks that might opt in are the text book type folks with a few other things like the guys that make Elements, the language apps etc.
To be honest I suspect that the only folks that might opt in are the text book type folks with a few other things like the guys that make Elements, the language apps etc.
I could see this being helpful for applications that are rather expensive, apps with college level type need. I am a film major and I bought Storyboard Composer, which was a 20 dollar app. Kind of steep for a student to have to pay but I know it will be useful in creating storyboards for projects.