iPad App Distribution and Generic Apple ID

I am about to start the same type of project and look forward to a response to this.

You can use the same account on multiple devices, so I would give each cart an apple id. We are about to deploy 1800 ipads and plan to have one apple id per grade level.

Keep in mind that, using Casper, you will have to enter the apple id and password on each ipad as you install apps. This can get quite tedious. We are planning to put Apple configurator on a macbook and plug it into the cart to install apps. It will keep track of the ipads, the vpp codes, and everything else. When you are done, unplug it and move on to the next cart.

We are sticking with the old iTunes model for now.

Configurator has some nice features, but I hate how it 'eats' codes. I legit buy as many codes as we use, but it's infuriating (at least the last time I checked), if an iPad dies before you can return the codes to the configurator, you lose ability to reload the apps on the ipad replacement. You have to buy them again.

One of the apps we use is $199 ($99 VPP), too much for us to risk as we have sent in some iPads for repair only to get a different/new one back. If we had to rebuy apps if a machine goes in for repair, we'd also likely not be getting the bulk discount unless we overbuy extra app copies at time of purchase (which we shouldn't have to do!)

Or if you don't backup your configurator database or it somehow gets corrupted... good luck. I realize most techs are smart about backing up, but I'd be looking at a configurator workstation per building, different techs touching it, etc. Apple's answer of "use time machine" is less than thrilling to me, and we can't do offsite backups like Crashplan for policy reasons.

These risks don't exist with the iTunes model, where the iTunes account owns the app no matter what happens to an iPad. However, Apple is getting difficult with creating those non credit card iTunes accounts making this model difficult, as they're obviously trying to push customers towards Configurator.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong re: replaced iPads.

My understanding is that you CAN get those codes back, but you have to contact Apple. I haven't tried this, but that is my understanding after having some conversations with an Apple engineer. He actually said we could get the codes back if our configurator machine died without a backup, but I'm assuming the same would hold true here.

I believe that with the VPP and using iOS6 supervised mode then the codes can be re-used when ipads are changed or swapped out. I'm not sure completely what the downsides are with iOS6 supervised mode but I think in a situation where you own all your iPads it could be worth investigation.