Apple Adds Exciting Subscription Product for Companies

This week iPhone maker Apple released a new program for businesses to set up, manage and install software on worker iPhones, iPads and Macs.

The program, released on Thursday, is called Business Essentials and ranges from $2.99 per month to $24.99 per month per worker.

Business Essentials allows a boss or a system administrator to install corporate apps, set passcode policies, track or shut down a lost phone or laptop and provide access to cloud storage. In the more expensive tiers, users are given AppleCare credits so they can get repairs from Apple stores.

The tech giant is aiming to offer more services that include recurring billion subscriptions. Apple’s services business grew 27% in 2021 to $68.4 billion as the company introduced subscriptions like Fitness+, which gives users access to a library of video workouts.

Business Essentials is the latest product from Apple that helps businesses navigate hybrid work environments.

Apple said that the product is integrated with Microsoft Azure and Google Workspace systems so that workers will be able to log on to their devices with logins managed by those companies.

There is currently no limit how many users Business Essentials supports, but Apple said it’s designed for businesses with fewer than 500 employees.

Earlier in the week Apple also announced that so-called “reader apps” will be allowed to use external links inside their apps to enable users to sign up or manage their accounts.

The change applies to apps that primarily provide magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music or video content. The new policy will allow these apps to bypass Apple’s 15% to 30% fees by allowing them to link out to a external website to sign up new customers.

Disclaimer: We have no position in any of the companies mentioned and have not been compensated for this article.