Apple made Business Essentials available to small businesses across the United States on March 31, 2022, with device-management and iCloud-storage plans starting at US$2.99 a month after a two-month free trial. Plans including AppleCare+ for Business Essentials start at US$9.99 a month. The $2.99 starting price does not include that optional support and repairs package. [S1]

Apple introduced the service in November 2021 as a free U.S. beta for small businesses with up to 500 employees. Its original announcement excluded AppleCare+ during the beta and left that option’s price unannounced. The March launch makes the care option available and extends the two-month trial to beta customers as well as new users. [S1][S2]

Collections handles routine setup: a business can distribute groups of apps and push settings such as Wi-Fi passwords and virtual private network configurations to staff devices. Employees sign in with a Managed Apple ID and download assigned work apps through the Business Essentials app. Apple says the service supports company-issued and personally owned devices, with User Enrollment keeping personal and work data cryptographically separate. A dedicated iCloud work account supplies storage, backup and document collaboration. [S1][S2]

A company’s existing sign-in system could affect when it was ready to use the service. At launch, Apple said Managed Apple IDs could be created through federation with Microsoft Azure Active Directory, letting employees use a single business username and password. The Google Workspace identity connection was promised for later in the spring. A firm planning to link Google Workspace accounts therefore had a feature to wait for, even though the subscription itself was available. [S1]

AppleCare+ adds 24/7 phone support, administrator and employee training, and up to two device repairs per plan each year. Apple’s offer of an onsite technician in as little as four hours has a narrower reach than the nationwide subscription: onsite repairs initially cover Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area. The four-hour option is for iPhones only; Apple lists next-day appointments for Mac, iPad and Apple TV. The four-hour wording is an iPhone service offer in those launch areas, not a nationwide maximum wait. [S1]

Source documents

  1. Apple Business Essentials now available for small businesseshttps://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/03/apple-business-essentials-now-available-for-small-businesses/
  2. Apple introduces Apple Business Essentialshttps://www.apple.com/newsroom/2021/11/apple-introduces-apple-business-essentials/