Apple's 'Business Essentials' Service Expands to All Small Businesses

[MacRumors]

Apple today announced the official launch of its Business Essentials service designed to help out small businesses that use Apple products. The service was previously available in a beta capacity to a limited number of businesses, but now it is available to any small business that wants to participate.

Business Essentials, available to businesses with up to 500 employees, is a subscription-based service that provides device management features that include setup and onboarding, iCloud storage, and optional 24/7 access to Apple Support through AppleCare+ for Business, another new addition.

AppleCare+ for Business can be added to any Apple Business Essentials plan, and it offers 24/7 access to phone support, training for both IT administrators and employees, and up to two device repairs per plan — by individual, group, or device — each year.

Apple Business Essentials is priced at $2.99 per user to $12.99 per user, with the price varying based on the number of devices and the amount of iCloud storage that each employee needs. A two month free trial is available to all customers, including those who used the service in beta.

Article Link: Apple's 'Business Essentials' Service Expands to All Small Businesses

 

[zachlegomaniac]

We've been using Apple Business Essentials since the beta rolled out and will never look back. Mosyle was not a good fit for us. With Apple Business Essentials an ecologist, who knows nothing about MDM, can take care of all the devices in his small business (that sounds like a commercial). It was a pleasure getting everything set up with full support from the Apple technicians. It reminded me of why I buy their products both personally and for my company.

Now if they could rectify the horizontal scrolling software issue I have with Monterey on my MBA with 12.4...

 

[cupcakes2000]

You should really state that this is US only in the post. So not really all small businesses.

 

[tfresquezdxs]

If you opt for the applecare+ add-on, what the terms. Like it it saying that any kind of macbook that is enrolled for that user whether it has traditional applecare+ or not gets covered? Like an open enrollment kinda thing?

 

[drewhess]

We've been using Apple Business Essentials since the beta rolled out and will never look back. Mosyle was not a good fit for us. With Apple Business Essentials an ecologist, who knows nothing about MDM, can take care of all the devices in his small business (that sounds like a commercial). It was a pleasure getting everything set up with full support from the Apple technicians. It reminded me of why I buy their products both personally and for my company.

Now if they could rectify the horizontal scrolling software issue I have with Monterey on my MBA with 12.4...

That's interesting. The early feedback I saw indicated that Apple expected you to use ABE in addition to an MDM, not instead of one. So a couple of questions for you:

1. Does this mean that ABE is your only MDM now?
2. How difficult was it to switch to/add ABE for devices that were already enrolled in your MDM?

 

[Jeaz]

Is it just me or would it be nice if this also included more "Microsoft 365" features such as e-mail accounts with custom domains, calendar sharing and so on. Maybe as Business Plus?

 

[krusnof]

I used the beta and had to leave. Too many missing features (some really basic like couldn't remove an app from a blueprint/profile)—so if those are fixed, lovely. Otherwise, I feel more setup with Jumpcloud or jamf for the same cost—and still integrates with the business account for pre-setup ordering etc.

 

[kaardowiq]

Is more than 4TB iCloud space for each account possible?

 

[b.la]

Is it just me or would it be nice if this also included more "Microsoft 365" features such as e-mail accounts with custom domains, calendar sharing and so on. Maybe as Business Plus?

I think it’s just you ?.

Most businesses will continue to use office 365 as it is a industry standard for many things and with a 365 subscription comes a lot of these features included. It’s the Trojan Horse for other MS products. I think Apple is focusing on what companies need from a product like this instead of over complicating it by duplicating features they’re likely getting from somewhere else… for now.

 

[sorgo †]

God those mismatched notches are ugly 🤢

 

[zachlegomaniac]

That's interesting. The early feedback I saw indicated that Apple expected you to use ABE in addition to an MDM, not instead of one. So a couple of questions for you:

1. Does this mean that ABE is your only MDM now?
2. How difficult was it to switch to/add ABE for devices that were already enrolled in your MDM?

Huh, that's equally as fascinating to me. We pulled all of our devices off Mosyle, altogether, and are actively managing the devices with ABE (only). The business rep from our local Apple Store put me in touch with a guy out in California that helped me get started and that was that. Enrolling the devices was extremely simple.

One of my employees has taken over the device management through ABE since I went through the process first with an iPad Pro in the early winter. Feel free to DM me any questions you have and I can run them by her. I really struggled with Mosyle and started to think we'd have to outsource the work, but the entire UI of ABE felt much less intimidating (for someone of my skill level, anyways).

 

[drewhess]

Huh, that's equally as fascinating to me. We pulled all of our devices off Mosyle, altogether, and are actively managing the devices with ABE (only). The business rep from our local Apple Store put me in touch with a guy out in California that helped me get started and that was that. Enrolling the devices was extremely simple.

One of my employees has taken over the device management through ABE since I went through the process first with an iPad Pro in the early winter. Feel free to DM me any questions you have and I can run them by her. I really struggled with Mosyle and started to think we'd have to outsource the work, but the entire UI of ABE felt much less intimidating (for someone of my skill level, anyways).

Thanks!

 

[philstubbington]

Is it just me or would it be nice if this also included more "Microsoft 365" features such as e-mail accounts with custom domains, calendar sharing and so on. Maybe as Business Plus?

You’ve got some of that with AppleOne (custom domains) - some things (eg calendar and reminder sharing) you could do before AppleOne came along.

I very much doubt Apple will build a full M365 equivalent though.

 

[ZMacintosh]

It is a lightweight MDM, so if you're over 500 devices its not for you, but for small operations its perfect no infrastructure and probably only need apps from the App Store and not custom packages per se. otherwise use config profiles. They are integrating with Google Workspace soon, so that could solve the email portion and keep costs somewhat minimal where O365 can get pricey for smaller orgs.

 

[zachlegomaniac]

We're 12 people right now, but growing quickly. Everyone has some combination of Mac, iPad and iPhone depending on their role. ABE is perfect for our very small business. Mosyle felt like using a crane to crush a fly.

Microsoft Office 365 is only $8.25/user. It's hardly one of our bigger expenses, although I wish I could say it were. Google hosts our domain and email. I can't remember the cost for those services off the top of my head, but they are also negligible.

Also, I'm pretty confident you can add your own custom apps with ABE, but we have no need for that feature at this time. I strongly recommend checking it out if you're a small business owner that wants to take care of device management in house, but has a difficult time managing tech as well as all other aspects of your business.

 

[hanschristian]

Huh, that's equally as fascinating to me. We pulled all of our devices off Mosyle, altogether, and are actively managing the devices with ABE (only). The business rep from our local Apple Store put me in touch with a guy out in California that helped me get started and that was that. Enrolling the devices was extremely simple.

One of my employees has taken over the device management through ABE since I went through the process first with an iPad Pro in the early winter. Feel free to DM me any questions you have and I can run them by her. I really struggled with Mosyle and started to think we'd have to outsource the work, but the entire UI of ABE felt much less intimidating (for someone of my skill level, anyways).

It looks pretty great and pretty easy. How does it manage apps that aren't distributed through the Mac or iOS App stores?

 

[TriBruin]

It looks pretty great and pretty easy. How does it manage apps that aren't distributed through the Mac or iOS App stores?

For Mac, it does not currently support installing non-Mac App Store apps. According to a stat I heard from Jamf yesterday, 12 of the top 15 installed Apps are non-MAS apps. Supposedly Apple is looking at adding this feature at a later date.

For iOS Apps, there really is no reason for non AppStore apps. A few years ago, Apple introduced a way for companies to post custom apps to the AppStore and designate them for specific customers. Those apps can be added just like regular iOS apps.