Apple to expand Volume Purchase Program to 16 new regions, pushes into Middle East

In an update to its website on Thursday, Apple announced it will soon bring bulk app and iBook purchases to 16 new countries through its Volume Purchase Program, which will include support for both businesses and educational institutions.

Added to the Volume Purchase Program webpages for business and education, the announcement notes upcoming availability in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.

Currently, Apple's VPP initiative is restricted to ten countries from major markets in North America, Europe and East Asia.

Through VPP, schools can receive a 50 percent discount when buying 20 or more copies of a participating app. Developers can opt-in to the program VPP, but are by default not enrolled until they sign up via iTunes Connect. Businesses can also take advantage of the program under the same conditions.

Apple's Volume Purchase Program was introduced to the iOS App Store in 2010 under the Apple in Education umbrella. The bulk buying program was later extended to businesses deploying iPads and iPhones to employees. The company also introduced a managed distribution program to help streamline app distribution among ecosystems with hundreds or thousands of devices.

In October 2013, Apple added Mac apps to VPP, allowing institutions additional flexibility in mass hardware rollouts.