Apple launched its widely rumoured business support service Joint Venture overnight making further inroads to the channel.
While consumers have received expert advice through retail shop Genius Bars, business users needing onsite or phone assistance have needed to engage third-party resellers, until now.
Joint Venture offers set-up, training and support to business customers and includes services such as data migration from PCs.
End-users can register for the service online to schedule training, book appointments, get tech support and sign up for workshops.
And Apple will lend replacement hardware while the user's is being fixed.
It may be good news for users but resellers now must compete with their vendor for their customers' business.
No Apple reseller would speak to CRN about this potential threat to their business.
Access to "Geniuses", Apple's name for its customer technical service staff, was by appointment but Joint Venture includes phone support.
It starts at $549 with the purchase of a new Mac and supports up to five systems.
Although the booking system is online, it is linked to Apple shops so customers need to nominate a store when they create an account.
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