14 DAY TRIAL // After ‘secretly’ meeting and discussing with retail store staffers last week, Apple now officially launched Joint Venture, a program designed to help small businesses make profitable use of their Macs, iPhones, and iPads.
Through Joint Venture, a $499-a year service, Apple is dedicated to setting users up your their new devices and software, train employees, and make sure everything just works.
“The Apple Store will work with you from the beginning to make sure your new systems are up and ready to use, usually within 24 hours,” Apple notes.
The Mac maker pledges to execute tasks like transferring existing data — including your mail, calendar, and address book — from a PC or Mac, install any additional software the firm may have purchased from Apple, and hook them up with a Joint Venture website.
The online interface allows businesses to easily access every Joint Venture service. These include schedule training, book appointments, tech support, and workshops.
“When everything’s set up and ready to go, we’ll take the time to show you and your staff around your new products, so you’ll be ready to hit the ground running,” Apple says.
Training includes two modules - Company Training, and Getting Started with Workshops.
Companies opting for Joint Venture can schedule up to three two-hour sessions of training at the Apple Store for their employees to have Apple’s specialized trainers lead hands-on workshops on topics like getting started on a Mac, using iPhone and iPad for business, creating Keynote presentations, and more.
Under the terms of the agreement between Apple and the firm buying Joint Venture, loaner Macs are also available for when repairs take longer than expected.
Apple promises to “loan you a MacBook Pro or a MacBook Air ready to go with Mail, iCal, iWork, iLife, and Microsoft Office,” so the business stays productive, even on the go.
Visit Apple here to learn more about ‘Joint Venture.’