Apple Apps and Books

This section contains the following topics:

Licence: Silver

The Apple Apps and Books screen is available only if you have set up Apple Apps and Books in your app catalog settings. This screen shows the app licences that have been purchased for Apple devices via the Apple Apps and Books and how many have been used. Use this screen to:

  • select the Apps and Books apps that will be included in your catalog
  • distribute licences for Apps and Books apps

For more information about distributing apps with Apps and Books, see the Ivanti Community article, Ivanti Neurons for MDM: How to Distribute Apps with VPP.

Apple Books may not be available in all countries or regions. In order to distribute licences for apps via Apple’s Apps and Books you must enter the sToken provided by Apple.

Licence distribution of apps across multiple Apple Apps and Books accounts in a space

  • If the same app exists in multiple Apps and Books accounts, then the licence will be distributed from the account in the order of priority of the accounts.
  • If the same app exists in multiple Apps and Books accounts, and if the app licence in the Apps and Books account with higher priority is exhausted, then the app would be distributed a licence from the next prioritised account only if the user or the device is present in the licence distribution list of the next prioritised account.
  • A licence will not be revoked and re-assigned on changing the priority of the Apps and Books accounts. The app would be distributed a licence from the first account. If the licences are exhausted in the first account, the app would be distributed a licence from the next prioritised account, and so on.
  • A user has an option to revoke all licences of an app from the App Catalogue page. This action would revoke the licence of that app from all available Apps and Books accounts.
  • Reserved licences have precedence over priority of the Apps and Books accounts.

Device-based and user-based licence distribution

Whether the licence for an app is Device-based or User-based depends on how you assign it. When assigning an app licence to a device, it becomes a device-based licence. When assigning an app licence to a user, it becomes a user-based licence.

A license is distributed when installing a Apps and Books app to a device, or when a token is issued for that app. If no licences are available for the app, the user has the option of installing and paying for the app themselves. If a user has already been assigned a user-based licence for the requested Apps and Books app, the app is installed using the existing user-based licence, rather than the Apps and Books licence.

In the case of Shared iPads, Apps and Books are installed based on device-based licences regardless of whether device-based licences are selected or not.

Using device-based licence option

With device-based licences, the users need not enrol in Apps and Books. The required apps will install automatically. Corporate supervised devices do not need to deal with an IT owned Apple ID.

During device check-in, the device is identified by the serial number and the required app is installed if there are licences available. If no licences are available the app is not installed. If a licence for an app is reserved, then a device based licence assignment will not occur at app installation.

Application updates for Apps deployed using Device based Apps and Books licensing are controlled by the administrator.

To control how an app will be updated, in Apps> App Catalogue navigate to the App Configurations/Install On Device tab. You will be able to select an immediate update that will occur at the next device check-in, or you can choose to have the app update automatically when new versions become available.

Important: Before assigning a device-based licence to a business to business (B2B) or productivity app, confirm the app is eligible for device-based licensing with the app developer.

Using user-based licence option

A user-based licence remains valid for that user if they have to move from one device to another in case the device is lost or stolen or the user upgrades to a new device. With user-based licences, the user must first enrol into Apple Apps and Books. Enrolling is a manual action that the end user must complete in the App Catalogue. Required Apps and Books apps won’t be installed on the device until the user enrols in the Apps and Books.

If the app is a required Apps and Books app and the licence distribution is user-based:

  • Required app install will not occur if the user is not enrolled in the Apps and Books program.
  • Required apps may be installed if the user is enrolled in the Apps and Books program and a licence is available.
  • If the user is enrolled in Apps and Books, but there are no licences available then the app will not be installed.

Adding an Apps and Books app to the catalogue

Procedure

  1. Go to Apps > App Catalogue.
  2. Select an app and click Add to Catalogue. Click Next.
  3. Optionally, add a description of the app. Click Next.
  4. Select a distribution option. Click Next.
  5. Click the App Configuration tab.
  6. Optionally, select Install on device. This configuration option installs the app without prompting the user on supervised iOS devices.
  7. Select other configuration options if needed.

In the Apps and Books secure token info page, the following token details are displayed:

  • Created date
  • Location (if the token contains this information)
  • Expiry date

Adding Apps and Books accounts

Ivanti Neurons for MDM allows adding multiple Apps and Books accounts by adding multiple Apps and Books secure tokens in a single space.

Perform the following steps to add a Apps and Books secure token in a space:

  1. Go to Apps > Apple Apps and Books.
  2. Click + Add Apps and Books sToken.
  3. Enter a name and choose a token file.
  4. Optionally, deselect the Automatically distribute Apps and Books apps to all users option. This option is selected by default, in which case the All Users group is used to distribute the FCFS licences.
  5. Optionally, select the Clear all data from previous Apps and Books Licence option to remove all app licences associated with this token.
  6. Click Save.

After the account is added, a list of all added Apps and Books accounts is displayed in the table.

Updating an Apps and Books secure token

Procedure

  1. Go to Apps > Apple Apps and Books.
  2. Click the Apps and Books account name.
  3. In the Token tab, click Update sToken (.stoken file).
  4. Enter the token name and choose a token file.
  5. Optionally, deselect the Automatically distribute Apps and Books apps to all users option. This option is selected by default, in which case the All Users group is used to distribute the FCFS licences.
  6. Optionally, select the Clear all data from previous Apps and Books Licence option to remove all app licences associated with this token.
  7. Click Update.

From the Token tab, click Resync Apps and Books Licence Usage Information to perform a full sync of all app and licence information from Apple Apps and Books service. This action is only necessary if the licence allocation information in Ivanti Neurons for MDM is not accurate. This inaccuracy may occur due to inconsistencies in Apple Apps and Books APIs.

Updating the priority of an Apps and Books account

Administrators can assign a priority for each Apps and Books account in a space depending on which the licences would be consumed. The priorities of the Apps and Books accounts are used to have a predictable licence distribution system and resolve conflicts when a user or a device is eligible to receive a licence from multiple Apps and Books accounts for the same app.

Procedure

  1. Go to Apps > Apple Apps and Books.
  2. Click Edit Priority against the required Apps and Books account name.
  3. In the Edit Priority window, select a new priority.
  4. Click Save.

Deleting an Apps and Books secure token

Removing a Apps and Books secure token is irreversible and destructive. When a token is removed:

  • Apps that have reserved tokens will have their tokens removed.
  • Apps that were paid for will remain in the catalogue and users can pay for them on their own.
  • Apps that were installed by end users via the corporate Apps and Books account will need to transition to personal accounts if the users wish to use them. Users have a 30-day grace period to do so.

Procedure

  1. Go to Apps > Apple Apps and Books.
  2. Click the Apps and Books account name.
  3. In the Token tab, click Delete.
  4. In the Apps and Books Secure Token Delete window, select the Yes, Delete the Apps and Books Secure Token option to confirm.
  5. Click Delete.

Distributing licences for an Apps and Books app in the catalogue

  1. Select Apps > Apple Apps and Books from the main menu.

    2. A list of Apps and Books accounts is displayed. Under each account, a list of apps purchased through the Apps and Books program is displayed.

  2. Select an app and click Distribute Licences.
  3. Choose a distribution option, First-come, first-served, Reserved, or Disallowed in the Apps and Books Licences section.

Viewing app licences per user

You can view licence preference for your users by using the Licence Usage tab.

  1. Click the Users tab
  2. Select a user.
  3. Click the License Usage tab.

    4. A list of apps is displayed with their Apps and Books Licence type and licence assignment details.

To view the licence usage for each app per user:

  1. Go to Users in the Ivanti Neurons for MDM main menu.
  2. Select a user.

    3. The Devices tab is displayed by default.

  3. Click on the License Usage tab.

    4. A list of all the apps installed on the user's device is displayed including the licence status. The serial number for the device is listed in the Apps and Books Licence Type column for device based licences.

    • App name
    • Version of the app
    • Cost of the app
    • Date the app was assigned
    • Apps and Books licence type
    • Actions (Licence status.)

You can also view the Apps and Books licence usage for each app:

  1. Go to App > App catalog in the Ivanti Neurons for MDM main menu.
  2. Select an app.
  3. Click on the Apps and Books Licences tab if present.
  4. Click an account name. Only apps purchased through the Apps and Books program will be displayed in this tab.

    5. A separate tab for each Apps and Books licence type is displayed.

    Licence type and log Description
    First Come First Served (FCFS)  - You have the option to select which user groups will receive this type of licence.
    • User Requested Apps - Apps the user chooses to install. A User based Licence is the default
    • Required Apps - Apps that are required and are installed by Admin configuration using the Install on Device setting. These apps use Device based licences by default.
    Reserved Reserved licences have priority over FCFS licences. Here you can select the users or devices to have a Reserved licence for the app.
    Disallowed Enter the users who are not allowed to have a licence for this app. The user can still install the app, but they must purchase it.
    Activity Log Displays the user, the type of Apps and Books licence assigned to them, the date it was assigned, and the latest action taken on the licence.

To view the detailed licence usage for each app per device:

  1. Go to Devices in the Ivanti Neurons for MDM main menu.
  2. Select a device.
  3. Click on the Installed Apps tab.

    4. A list of all the managed apps installed to the selected device is displayed including the licence status.

    • App Name
    • Version of the app
    • Platforms supported
    • Source of the app
    • Size of the app
    • Apps and Books licence type
    • App reported (installed) date for iOS apps

Apps and Books licence usage notifications

Apps and Books notifications help you track Apps and Books licence usage. The notifications thresholds are defined as:

  • An information notification is issued when over 50% of the licences have been used.
  • A warning notification is issued when 70 to 80% of the licences have been used.
  • A Critical notification is issued when 90 to 100 % of the licences have used.
  • Notifications are cleared when the usage drops below 50%.

To view licence information for each app:

  1. Click Apps > Apple Apps and Books.

    2. Licence Information is displayed including:

    • Name of the app.
    • Cost of the licence.
    • Number of licences available.
    • Number of redeemed licences.
  2. Go to Dashboard > Notifications to view details of a licence notification.

    3. The Notifications page is displayed.

  3. Click on the notification title to see the details. See Dashboard for the available notifications.

Apps and Books licence usage notifications

Trigger Severity Notification Type Component Type
50% Redeemed Info Licence Usage Apps and Books
70% Redeemed Warn Licence Usage Apps and Books
80% Redeemed Warn Licence Usage Apps and Books
90% Redeemed Alert Licence Usage Apps and Books
100% Redeemed Alert Licence Usage Apps and Books

Viewing Apps and Books licence usage

The licence usage details specific to a user is displayed in the licence usage table in the licence column.

  1. Click an app.
  2. Click the License Usage tab.
  3. Enter a user name in the search field.

Revoking Apps and Books licence for an app

Apps and Books Licences are revoked when a:

  • Device is inactive (retired or wiped).
  • Apps and Books app is deleted.
  • Device based licence is revoked when the device is retired.
  • Apps and Books token is deleted.

To revoke a Apps and Books licence for an app:

  1. Select the app under Apps > App Catalog.
  2. Click the Apple Apps and Books Licences tab if present.
  3. Perform one of the following tasks:
    1. Click Revoke All Licences to revoke all licences from all users or devices.
    2. Click the Activity Log tab. Use the Actions column to revoke individual licences on a per user or per device basis.
  • For iOS devices, Apple allows a 30-day grace period for Apps and Books apps after the Apps and Books licence is revoked. Therefore, the Apps and Books app remains installable.
  • For macOS devices, after the Apps and Books licence is revoked, the app still remains on the device.

To revoke a Apps and Books licence for a user:

  1. Click an app.
  2. Click the License Usage tab.
  3. Click the Revoke License link for the user whose access to the license should be removed.

Apps and Books licences are automatically revoked if the user is deleted or the user removes the MDM profile from the device.

Apps and Books Authentication Error Notifications

Some authentications errors might occur when using the Apple Apps and Books service. These Apps and Books Authentication errors notifications are:

Error Notification Action
Invalid Authentication Token Upload a valid Apps and Books sToken
Expired Token Generate a new token online using your company's account
The sToken has been revoked Upload a valid Apps and Books
Login required Log into the Apps and Books service

Apps and Books behaviour for macOS and iOS devices

Apps and Books for iOS

Action Device-based Licence User-based Licence
Remove Apps and Books app from distribution for user App is uninstalled on user's device App is uninstalled on user's device
Un-Delegate Apps and Books app App is uninstalled from all devices in non-default space(s) App is uninstalled from all devices in non-default space(s)
Deleting Apps and Books app from default or custom space App is uninstalled from all devices App is uninstalled from all devices

Apps and Books for macOS

Action

Device-based Licence

 User-based Licence

Remove Apps and Books app from distribution for user

App does not get uninstalled on user's device

 NA

Un-Delegate Apps and Books app

App does not get uninstalled from all devices in non-default space(s)

 NA

Deleting Apps and Books app from default or custom space

App does not get uninstalled from all devices

 NA

Apps and Books licence entitlement when a device moves spaces

When a device moves to a new space, the Apps and Books licence that is assigned to the device or the device owner is revoked. A new Apps and Books licence is assigned depending on the availability in the new space.

The following are the Apps and Books licence entitlement scenarios:

Scenario

Entitlement
An Apps and Books licence is assigned to a device or a device owner in the source space and an Apps and Books licence for the same app is available in the destination space.

Assign a licence from the Apps and Books token in the destination space.
An Apps and Books licence is assigned to a device or a device owner in the source space and no Apps and Books licence for the same app is available in the destination space. Revoke the licence from the Apps and Books token in the source space.
No Apps and Books licence is assigned to a device or a device owner in the source space and an Apps and Books licence for any installed Apps and Books app is available in the destination space.

Assign a licence from the Apps and Books token in the destination space.

If you cannot perform tasks on the App Categories page, it might be that you do not have the required permissions. You need one of the following roles:

  • App & Content Management