[slg]

From that page:

>One complete subscription...

Oh, so Apple just discontinued the one that comes free with the purchase of the hardware[1] and wants people to move to a subscription. I guess my confusion should have rather been frustration.

[1] - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208312

[odkurzacz]

I don't get your comment. MDM API is still free, you can implement and host MDM server yourself without any issues. I'm pretty sure you will find some open source MDM implementations if you look around.

[slg]

Profile Manager was software that Apple used to provide free with macOS Server which was free with certain hardware purchases. This software provided a native way to manage multiple devices that was ideal for small businesses and families.

I understand there are non-free and non-native alternatives, but the discontinuing of free software is still frustrating. It would be like Apple suddenly deciding to make Safari a monthly subscription. Sure, I could pay for it or I could start using Firefox, but it is still functionality that used to be native and free that no longer is.

[Wowfunhappy]

> you can implement and host MDM server yourself without any issues

...is this actually a thing? I would have assumed you need some special Apple approval.

[ehutch79]

Yeah, profile manager was never much more than a reference implementation. It never really was something you'd put into production.

It also was never free, it was part of server

[londons_explore]

Businesses prefer something with ongoing support, and that tends to be a subscription service.

[happyopossum]

In the modern world, MDM also works far better as a cloud service than a privately run server behind a corporate firewall.

[phpisthebest]

Admittedly this may not be the case for apple devices, but I know more than a few enterprises that use Android MDM on Prem behind the Firewall specifically for Devices that should not ever contact the Internet, they are used for internal processes.

[rmbyrro]

Why are you frustrated? Apple is a for-profit business.

It's expected to do things maximizing their revenue.

If you expect businesses to do differently, you've set your self up for a life of frustrations.

EDIT: there's nothing wrong with this either; they have real people working there, maintaining this stuff, and real capital invested; if you find their services valuable, you better pay or else they won't last long...

[slg]

Are you seriously asking why someone might be frustrated that a thing that used to be free is no longer free?

[zenexer]

Something can be both expected and frustrating. Of course customers are going to be frustrated when prices go up, especially if there’s a lack of transparency surrounding the process.

Companies don’t care about customers’ feelings, and customers don’t care about companies’ revenue. Both sides should be able to acknowledge this and act appropriately.

Yeah, if a company pisses me off and gives me the impression they’re getting greedy, I’m going to stop paying them and raise hell. That’s the trade-off. There’s nothing wrong with me or any other customer getting frustrated: that’s how the dynamic is meant to work.