Managing multiple iPads?

[drjones]

A client of mine had me purchase 6 iPad Air 2 for some of their employees.

I'm looking for tips, info & advice on managing the devices.

One specific question is what do I do for iCloud / iTunes accounts to enable them to download apps? Do I use their individual business emails, or do I use the same admin email account for each, one account that only I control?

I will also have GFI MDM on each iPad.

Thanks!

 

[nlinecomputers]

IF you use the same email address then the same data will be synced to each unit. I would create business iCloud accounts for each user and use a single recovery email for the secondary recovery account. That way you can control it and transfer the device a new account when they have a change in employees.

 

[drjones]

IF you use the same email address then the same data will be synced to each unit. I would create business iCloud accounts for each user and use a single recovery email for the secondary recovery account. That way you can control it and transfer the device a new account when they have a change in employees.

The client runs their own exchange server, so we can create whatever emails we want; what if I just created emails like, ipad01@client.com
iPad 02@client.com

Etc?

That seems like it would be ideal...

 

[nlinecomputers]

The client runs their own exchange server, so we can create whatever emails we want; what if I just created emails like, ipad01@client.com
iPad 02@client.com

Etc?

That seems like it would be ideal...

Why? Are these end user NOT going to want to use the ipad for email? Why create a second set of accounts when I assume you already have john.jones@client.com bob.smith@client.com etc.?

I would just use the native emails and setup everyone with ONE joint recovery account for lost icloud passwords. ipadrecovery@client.com. Note that is for the backup email address, the primary would be the end users company email.

EDIT: Strike all that. Bad advice per Mark's post down thread.

 

[Markverhyden]

Downloading apps depends on how the customer wishes to handle things. It's easy to setup free accounts so they can do free downloads, the issue is purchased apps. Many businesses I have worked with did not want to use the manager's card in everyone's account. Obviously the employees can pay for it themselves. Another way is to gift the app value. Used to be able to directly gift and app but no longer. So they can just send App gift cards for the value of the app.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Downloading apps depends on how the customer wishes to handle things. It's easy to setup free accounts so they can do free downloads, the issue is purchased apps. Many businesses I have worked with did not want to use the manager's card in everyone's account. Obviously the employees can pay for it themselves. Another way is to gift the app value. Used to be able to directly gift and app but no longer. So they can just send App gift cards for the value of the app.

So how do you handle an employee leaving? If the business requires certain paid apps it would be a pain to have to rebuy them if person x gets fired and replaced by person y.

 

[Markverhyden]

So how do you handle an employee leaving? If the business requires certain paid apps it would be a pain to have to rebuy them if person x gets fired and replaced by person y.

My preferred method is to always have each iOS device with it's own, free account. Meaning the email is something like ipad01@company.com. The email can always be "recycled", just change the password. A purchase in the iTunes store is tied to an email so you just use the device email.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201783

 

[nlinecomputers]

My preferred method is to always have each iOS device with it's own, free account. Meaning the email is something like ipad01@company.com. The email can always be "recycled", just change the password. A purchase in the iTunes store is tied to an email so you just use the device email.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201783

When means there IS merit to the OP idea. That means more than one email account on the iPad. One for iTunes/iCloud and an exchange account for the real email. Just gotta have no credit card tied to the account after you've purchased the required apps.

 

[Markverhyden]

When means there IS merit to the OP idea. That means more than one email account on the iPad. One for iTunes/iCloud and an exchange account for the real email. Just gotta have no credit card tied to the account after you've purchased the required apps.

Yes. In addition to the gift process you can just go in, put in the full CC info, including card holder name, etc. Make the purchase and then delete after the purchase. Done that as well. The email for the apple id is just the username for apple id.

 

[drjones]

Thanks....I was looking specifically at handling iCloud / iTunes purchases.
Just because you have iPad01@domain.com for your iCloud / iTunes account email, you can of course still add multiple email accounts to the device.

So is that the best way to go; create separate emails for each iPad?

 

[Markverhyden]

Yes. Not sure how familiar you are about M$ AD. But in that environment they have machine accounts and user accounts. Creating the iPad specific accounts is similar to creating machine accounts.

 

[drjones]

Yes. Not sure how familiar you are about M$ AD. But in that environment they have machine accounts and user accounts. Creating the iPad specific accounts is similar to creating machine accounts.

Oh? Didn't know that....I know that you can do stuff like create resources; conference rooms, etc....didn't know you can create machine accounts.

What's the purpose of this, and would I want to do that vs. just create a standard / regular mailbox?

Thanks Mark!

 

[freedomit]

We normally just link them all to one Apple ID, and not tell the users the password. That way the managers can distribute apps to all the iPads just by installing on one, also means you only have to pay once.

 

[BrianofNazareth]

Why not use the Apple Configurator? It was designed for what you are doing.

http://help.apple.com/configurator/mac/1.3/#cadf1802aed