Initial Observations - iPads at the Office

Question

We are initiating a beta program for our organization to deploy iPads and iPhones to select staff. I've been charged with (and was a proponent of) integrating IOS into a mostly Windows organization.
After much testing of iPads we began deploying them and have found that the devices themselves are fantastic. They will clearly make staff more productive and enable much faster communication and the ability to do more from the road.
However, I'm quickly learning that they are not ready for Enterprise use because the implementation is painful. There is no way to centralize billing. Purchasing apps for multiple devices with one account is way too much work and in fact I'm now frozen out from using our credit card until I contact Apple. Setting up the iPads requires either a credit card to activate iTunes or fancy footwork to fool iTunes into allowing the "No Credit Card" option.
To get around some limitations we tried "gifting" apps, only to find our card blocked by Apple after a few purchases. We can not print out a receipt for our purchases (waiting on the Apple email receipt, days later, is not an option).
I think once the bloom is off the rose, and the novelty wears off, Apple is going to face a backlash from businesses if it does not quickly address these issues. Perhaps we're caught in the middle - too small to incorporate more sophisticated device management services but too small to treat each iPad as an "individual" owned device. I hope with IOS 5 coming out soon Apple gives much more thought to how businesses integrate devices, and related Apps, into their business practices.

Answer 1

Going through the same thing. we have to find all the loops holes to be able to gets stuff. our group is small enough that we just made everyone one set up their own account using their work email. if we want to buy apps we just have the person who has the credit card by online gift cards and let people load the money to their account.
from what I haVe read Apple does not intend to change their way to making Apple friendly to enterprise use. which is a shame because more and more companies want to use them for that way and are having the same issues.