Before you use the VPP

Verify the following prerequisites before using the Apple Volume Purchase Program (VPP):

• Ensure that the Apple VPP is available in your country. For more information about VPP availability, see the Apple support site.
• Confirm that your organization has an Apple Business account. If not, create an account at https://business.apple.com.
• Verify that your devices are running iOS 7.0 or higher or macOS 10.9 or higher as you can only assign these devices to the VPP.

The following explanation has important information for using the Apple VPP. Get familiar with it before you start the VPP.

Distribution method

When you purchase applications through the VPP, you must choose between the following distribution methods for the applications.

• Managed distribution
• Redeemable codes

Managed Distribution

Using managed distribution is recommended. The purchased applications are added to Knox Manage when you register a VPP token on the Admin Portal. After assigning the applications, you can unassign and reassign them. Each VPP user receives a license code, which allows them to use the applications after you have assigned them. Upon a change in the application assignment, the application information and total number of license codes are updated automatically.

To add purchased applications through managed distribution, the following procedures must be performed.

1. Purchase iOS applications.
2. Download a VPP token from the VPP website
3. Register a download VPP token on the admin portal.
4. Add registered iOS users as VPP users if you want to do user-based app assignment.
5. Add the purchased applications to Knox Manage by synchronizing the servers.
6. Assign the applications to devices or VPP users.

Redeemable Codes

The selected applications are added to Knox Manage when you upload the spreadsheet containing the redeemable codes for the purchased applications on the Admin Portal. The spreadsheet is downloaded after purchase. Once you assign the applications to VPP users, you cannot unassign or reassign them.

To add purchased applications through redeemable codes, the following procedures must be performed.

1. Purchase iOS applications.
2. Download a spreadsheet containing the redeemable codes.
3. Add registered iOS users as VPP users if you want to do user-based app assignment.
4. Upload the spreadsheet.
5. Assign the applications to devices or VPP users.

Status of users

The VPP users’ statuses are divided into three types:

• Registered—The user is registered as a VPP user. A VPP invitation has been sent to the user, but the user has not yet accepted the invitation.
• Associated—The user is registered as a VPP user and has accepted the invitation. The user’s device is associated with the user’s Apple account. Apple gives the user a VPP Client user ID, which allows them to use the assigned applications.
• Retired—The user has been removed from the VPP user list on the Admin Portal. The user information is no longer visible in the Admin Portal but remains on the VPP website.