Apple Stores to launch Joint Venture on March 2nd
updated 09:30 am EST, Mon February 28, 2011
Should give small businesses Genius priority
Apple Store meetings held on Sunday were indeed related to Joint Venture, which should launch March 2nd in the US and March 3rd in the UK, attendees tell AppleInsider. The service plan will reportedly be offered when buying a new Mac, and cost $500 a year to cover up to five computers. Extra Macs can be covered at a price of $99 a year.
Aimed at small businesses, the slogan for Joint Venture is said to be "Get Setup. Get Trained. Keep Running." Along those lines subscribers will get options not available to the general public, such as installing and configuring Microsoft Exchange during system setup. Still more important may be priority support at the Genius Bar, including access to an exclusive technical support phone number. In cases where a Genius repair takes more than 24 hours, people may be able to borrow a 15-inch MacBook Pro with preloaded copies of iWork and Microsoft Office.
Some other perks included with Joint Venture allegedly include personal data transfer, and up to three group training sessions per year with eight people at a time. A special webpage should allow scheduling phone support with Genius technicians.
The timing of the rollout could put extra strain on Apple Store workers. The company only recently launched new MacBook Pros, and is expected to announce a second-generation iPad on the 2nd. The tablet could potentially ship as soon as this week.
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Joined: Sep 2000
Set up Exchange?
"Along those lines subscribers will get options not available to the general public, such as installing and configuring Microsoft Exchange during system setup."
For only $500 a year, setting up and maintaining Exchange sounds like a great deal! hehe