Apple to unveil JointVenture, a small business repair service

When will I get on-site support for my MBP?

As an ACN, I don't see this as a big problem.

Joint Venture offers priority at the Genius Bar. Big hairy deal. Most organizations that I support pay me so they don't have to lug their machine back into the chaos of the Apple Store.

I believe phone support is of limited usefulness. They're apparently not offering on-site service as was previously rumored. The group training? Meh, you do that. I suspect that this program would not be of much use for problems with third-party software/hardware.

This program is only available for new purchases, so no joy for the existing machines. That makes this program simply $500 extra expense on a new mac. A few organizations might buy it. It would be better than nothing for an organization in a remote area with no local support, but it's way to limited to replace an ACN.

How is this going to affect Apple Consultants or more specifically Apple Authorized Service Providers, who already offer this type of service in their area? Seems like in an effort to "control" the user experience with Apple
products, Apple is intent on cannibalizing the businesses still left after they expanded into retail, slashing and burning many VARs across the board, when they did so, and now their focusing doing the same to AASPs?
Scary times....

Until Apple started to get big in the early 2000's, there were plenty of places to get great support for small businesses including Apple themselves. It was easy to order replacement parts yourself and I remember many times talking to Apple employees for advice on purchases as well as network configurations, etc.

Since then, there are very few third party Apple dealers with good service that aren't way overpriced and Apple themselves have offered small business no option other than going to the Apple store to see a Genius like everyone else. I do have to say that I am usually pleased with the service when I do go to the Genius Bar and I'm glad that they usually pick up that I know what I'm talking about instead of taking me through a bunch of BS. That right there is the problem with most small business services is that they treat you like an idiot even though you sometimes obviously know way more than they do. I rarely need any outside IT help, and when I do it usually just that I need someone I can call and get a quick answer or bounce a few ideas for how I'm going to set up a new server, etc.

While I have found some good contacts in Apple's enterprise dept, it just isn't the kind of service I really need. So I think it's a step in the right direction for them to offer something like this. I'm not sure I would use it enough to justify $500 a year, but many companies would and I will certainly consider it once I see more details.