Forced to use MDM solution now to deploy free apps to iPads?

This is also a problem for us. We are using VPP to limit free app distribution to dealers with iOS devices not managed by us.

I'm not sure there is another way to do it.

What? Is this for real?

Is apple trying to force everyone off of configurator now?

Have you tried just downloading the free app from iTunes and then putting it in to configurator? That's generally the mode I've been doing for free apps.

We are seeing the same thing here, except our app is a B2B free app so our customers can't just download the free app from iTunes. Our customers have previously generated redemption codes using their VPP account and then download the spreadsheet, but now the VPP store is showing "Managed Licenses" instead of "Download Codes". We are now forcing our customers to purchase an MDM solution where they could previously just distribute redemption codes. Also, the new 'managed distribution' model seems to only support iOS7 and higher.

I hear you man. Getting the MDM solution is fine for me, but not all my clients have their iPads running IOS7... and some can't even run IOS7. I don't know what to do.

We were forced to move our apps to the consumer App Store. Apple really blew it on this one.

This change dramatically affects me and my business.

At a minimum, Apple should have continued to allow the distribution of the app using redemption codes and given us a year to transition to MDM. That would have allowed time to develop best practises for developers who are in similar situation as me and my clients.

To top it off, there is no real way to have a discussion with Apple about this. I have sent an email to apple thru the "contact us" page with the expectation that it will take 3 days for a response. And if history is any indication, it will be some useless response such as "Are you still having a problem?", to which I will respond "yes", and subsequently wait 3 days for a response.

I see that it is possible to get redeption codes if the app is a paid app. To that end, I am going to change my pricing to $.99 and get a couple hundred redemption codes so I can at least move forward with getting my app deployed.

I would really like to have my apps on the consumer store, but last year Apple forced me to put them on the b2b store.

I changed the app to $.99 and bought fifty copies from myself and was able to get redemption codes. Hopefully Apple will listen to use and return this feature to free apps.

I have been testing VPP Managed Distribution for my students for the last 4 days now and have found that you can still push free apps to iOS6 devices (despite all documentation to the contrary), but you have to use Profile Manager (Im running Mavericks with OS X Server on a MBP) but it works - HOWEVER, all your students need to have an Apple ID :-( The only other option I guess, is to copy the .ipa files into configurator? Though I suspect you'll get a request for licenses - which, as we now know, we can no longer get via VPP. Major problem!

So, has anyone been able to speak to Apple about this?

As predicted I got a useless response from the VPP program on my initial inquiry. I am now in the second three day waiting period to here from them. Thir initial response is that I should contact itunes support.

Because we have schools involved perhaps you have enough buying power to get this problem escalated?

Charging yourself for a free app is not a solution for the long term. Our problem is that we are stuck. We already have 100' reps on the free system, MDM sounds great but we are not about to switch to MDM to add just 2 reps. Apple should allow us keep using the old system for a grace period and give us time to migrate to new system.

Switching things off without advanced notice is just bad process.

I have just been notified by Apple that they have restored the ability to download redemption codes on free Apps.

I have logged into my vpp account I am offered the option of downloading codes on free apps.

I think this problem is solved.

Mine is all working fine now too. Think Apple have made some tweaks since yesterday evening.

Unfortunately in Spain this option is still unavailable. It is impossible to deploy free apps through redeemable codes but only using an MDM solution.

Does anybody have any information about it in VPP Europe?

Thank you!