You could always get iTunes gift cards. That works in both the iTunes app store and the Mac App store. So if you bought $100 worth of gift cards, once that ran out, it ran out. Just create a departmental account through Apple, maybe [log in to unmask] and use that.
It seems like there are two issues. For the iPad it looks like you can gift an app in the iPad app store. I assume that you could set up an iTune account with an MSU corporate credit card. Then you could "gift" the application for the departmental iPad.
For the Mac App Store you can't can't gift an App. I'd like to buy half a dozen versions of Xcode for our group's programmers. I'm more than willing to pay the $4.99/copy, but there seems to be no way to buy this software with a corporate card or through the Computer Store. Hopefully Apple will fix this problem before we have to upgrade our OS.
Brian Baer
On 5/24/11 12:02 PM, Al Puzzuoli wrote:
Just wondering if any departments have already done this? We have an iPad for which we would like to purchase specific apps. Also, with the advent of Lion, Apple will apparently begin pushing oS installs through the App Store. Ideally, I would like to create an account and link it to some sort of prepaid card. We could allocate a certain amount of money to that card for software and app purchases and once it’s gone, it’s gone. Suggestions as to how to do this in a secure manner that complies with university policies would be welcome.
Thanks,
Al Puzzuoli
Michigan State University
Information Technologist http://www.rcpd.msu.edu
Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities 517-884-1915 120 Bessey Hall East Lansing, MI 48824-1033
