[TechWeb] according to media reports, Apple Inc announced on Wednesday local time that he would launch a business tool subscription service for small businesses with no more than 500 employees to help small business owners manage employee Apple Inc devices.
It is reported that the new service, called Apple Business Essentials, is similar to the management software customized for large enterprises by companies such as Microsoft Corp. The business combines device management, IT and end-user round-the-clock phone support, commercial iCloud storage, and the ability to provide on-site maintenance for up to 500 employees. It is specially designed for small businesses with less than 500 people, and often these enterprises'IT departments are small or do not have a dedicated IT department.
Business Essentials will enable small businesses to easily configure, deploy and manage Apple Inc products anywhere. In addition, Apple Inc will install new Apple Business Essentials applications on each employee's home screen and download enterprise applications assigned to them, such as Cisco Systems's Webex or Microsoft Corp Word. Apple Business Essentials also has strong security, and IT managers can enforce key security settings, such as FileVault for full-disk encryption on Mac, and activation locks (Activation Lock) to protect devices that may be lost or stolen. Apple Inc will also provide enterprises with a dedicated iCloud account to provide simple and secure file storage, backup and collaboration.
In addition, AppleCare + provides comprehensive business support and maintenance services, including round-the-clock phone support, training for IT administrators and employees, and up to twice a year for equipment maintenance.
The monthly fee for the service ranges from $2.99 to $12.99 per user, depending on the number of devices and cloud storage space. Starting today, Apple Business Essentials will launch a free trial in the United States, and the service will be fully launched in the spring of 2022. Apple Inc also plans to expand the service to other countries in the future.
"small businesses are at the core of our economy, and Apple Business Essentials aims to help simplify every step of employee device management within small businesses-from setting up, onboarding and upgrading to fast service and priority support, while maintaining data backup and security," said Susan Susan Prescott, vice president of corporate and educational marketing at Apple Inc. "