Apple today announced that it's making it easier for iPhone owners to get out-of-warranty repair work done.
Under its new independent repair provider program, Apple will provide more independent repair businesses with the same genuine parts, tools, training, repair manuals, and diagnostics as its Apple Authorized Service Providers. This program is launching in the U.S. first, but Apple plans to expand it to other countries in the future.
There's no fee for any interested independent repair shops to join this program. To qualify, the business must have an Apple-certified technician to perform the repairs. Getting certified is free, too, and interested parties can apply right here.
Once a repair business gets an Apple-certified technician, they'll have access to Apple's genuine parts, tools, training, repair manuals, and diagnostics at the same price as Apple's Authorized Service Providers.
"To better meet our customers’ needs, we’re making it easier for independent providers across the US to tap into the same resources as our Apple Authorized Service Provider network," said Apple COO Jeff Williams. "When a repair is needed, a customer should have confidence the repair is done right. We believe the safest and most reliable repair is one handled by a trained technician using genuine parts that have been properly engineered and rigorously tested."
This new independent repair provider program is just the latest effort by Apple to make it easier to get an iPhone repaired. The company recently teamed up with Best Buy to offer authorized service work in every Best Buy store in the U.S., a move that tripled the number of Apple Authorized Service Providers in the U.S. The number of AASP's around the world is now more than 5,000.
It's great to see Apple making it easier for independent repair shops to get genuine Apple parts, tools, and diagnostics. Now iPhone owners can go to an independent shop to get their phone fixed if they need to, like if they can't get to an AASP or if the independent shop is just more convenient, and if the shop is part of Apple's program, they can rest easy knowing that their phone will be fixed with genuine Apple parts. That's good for iPhone owners and for Apple, who will have happier customers that'll stick with their repaired iPhones longer.