Mobile Device Management - (free)

Try miradore

They have a free level of MDM and then they charge for added features.

No device limit but some features are free.

Meraki -- A free MDM [ expect lots of email and phone calls about upgrades ]

Read the product overview. Click on "get started now" to sign up.

https://meraki.cisco.com/products/systems-manager/?ref=YZRzCR

Video's on how to setup and use Meraki.

https://meraki.cisco.com/blog/2012/08/how-to-get-the-most-from-meraki-systems-ma nager/

Meraki comes well recommended. Create a spam account and use that for Meraki. Give them your boss's phone number!!! 👿 😀

I've never heard of another fee MDM unless you happen to have Mac OS X server around.

Apple Configurator and Apple Profile Manager

"Apple Configurator makes it easy for anyone to mass configure and deploy iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch in a school, business, or institution." Limited to Macs. Connects via USB cable.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/apple-configurator/id434433123?mt=12

"Profile Manager lets you configure OS X and iOS devices so they’re set up to use your company or school resources and have the settings, apps, and books your organization requires. Profile Manager creates settings and preference bundles for devices and deploys them to devices via the Mobile Device Management (MDM) service." Requires OS X server.
http://www.apple.com/uk/support/osxserver/profilemanager/

--------------------------------------------------------------

"This document offers guidance on some important considerations for getting the most out of your iOS deployment." Covers: Prepare your infrastructure. Set up devices. Configure and manage devices. Deploy apps and content. Plan for support.

http://images.apple.com/iphone/business/docs/iOS_Enteprise_Deployment_Overview_E N_Feb14.pdf

Quick overview of zero-touch MDM enrollment

http://www.apple.com/education/it/dep/

Use VPP. Select an MDM. Read the Google doc below and nsdjoey write up.

IT Resources -- ios & OS X -- This is a fantastic web page. I like the education site over the business site.

View documentation, video tutorials, and web pages to help IT professionals develop and deploy education solutions.

Education

http://www.apple.com/education/ipad/resources/

scroll down after all the pretty picture. Click on the words "For It".

business site is:

http://www.apple.com/lae/ipad/business/#browse-it-resources

If necessary, scroll down until you see the Browse IT Resources button. Click on button.

MDM -- Mobile Device Management

For a comparison see this page:

http://www.enterpriseios.com/wiki/Comparison_MDM_Providers

VPP -- Volume Purchase Program

http://www.apple.com/education/it/vpp/

Joe Rowe's Excellent guides

IT managers who are new to configurator and managing a cart of ios devices:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SMBgyzONxcx6_FswgkW9XYLpA4oCt_2y1uw9ceMZ9F4/ edit?pli=1

[ original announcement -- https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4256735?tstart=0 ]

Did you ever find a "free" -- free as in free beer and most likely without any support -- MDM solution for managing 50 devices? If you want more enterprise features and support, you'll pay a fee.