Apple introduces volume app buying program for schools

Apple this week introduced its iTunes App Store Volume Purchase Program that lets schools and educational institutions buy apps in bulk and distribute them to students and teachers.

Volume Vouchers can be purchased at the Apple Store for Education in dominations of $100, $500, $1000, $5000, $10,000. These vouchers can be bought on behalf of the education institution by an Authorized Purchaser, and they may use purchase orders. The Authorized Purchaser is often a purchasing agent at the institution. You should receive your Volume Vouchers in the mail within 3 to 5 business days.* Learn more about Authorized Purchasers

Redeem Volume Vouchers Institutions can designate one or more “Program Facilitators” to redeem Volume Vouchers and purchase apps through the App Store Volume Purchase Program.* The Program Facilitators can be anyone chosen by the Authorized Purchaser — a dean, a professor, a school principal, or a teacher, for example — or the Authorized Purchaser may also fulfill this role.

The licenses are sent to the facilitator in a spreadsheet, which can be used to distribute them to end users one at a time or in a mail merge.

The FAQ describes some of the program's limitations. It isn't for personal buying and doesn't support credit card purchases. It's a separate deal.

Can I use a credit card to make purchases through the Volume Purchase Program? No, only Volume Vouchers can be used to make purchases through the Volume Purchase Program. However, your institution's Authorized Purchaser can request to use a credit card as payment when purchasing the Volume Vouchers.