Apple today released version 3.2 of their iPhone Configuration Utility for Mac OS X. If you’re familiar with the utility you likely already know what it does, but for anyone curious:

iPhone Configuration Utility lets you easily create, maintain, encrypt, and install configuration profiles, track and install provisioning profiles and authorized applications, and capture device information including console logs.

Configuration profiles are XML files that contain device security policies, VPN configuration information, Wi-Fi settings, APN settings, Exchange account settings, mail settings, and certificates that permit iPhone and iPod touch to work with your enterprise systems.

So IT departments and network admins, go get it!

With the iPhone Configuration Utility you can set your iPad or iPhone carrier’s APN (access point name) manually in case your 3G networking isn’t working properly, which can sometimes happen for developers running beta versions of iOS. It’s a workaround to be sure, but if you need your device on-network for testing and can’t wait for newer betas, sometimes a work around is just what you need.

Follow on after the break for step-by-step instructions.

• If you haven’t already, download, install, and run the iPhone Configuration Utility from Apple for Windows or Mac OS X.

• Go to Configuration Profiles under Library in the sidebar and then hit New in the toolbar.

• Under General (Mandatory) enter a name for the profile you’re creating, and a unique identifier.

• Google your carrier’s APN settings. Take note of them.

• Scroll all the way to the bottom and, under Advanced, fill in your carrier’s APN info.

• Plug in your iPad or iPhone and then select it in the sidebar under Devices.
• Pick your profile and hit Install.

• Approve the installation on your iPhone or iPad.

• Enjoy functional 3G networking!

Again, this isn’t as good as having it work automagically, but it’s better than not having it work at all. If you’ve been having problems, hopefully this helps.

We’ve already mentioned iTunes 9.1 and iPhoto 8.1.2, but yesterday and today Apple also released Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3, VoiceOver Kit for iPod 1.3, and iPhone Configuration Utility 2.2.

For Mac and traditional iPod users, these will get you the latest, greatest bug fixes and software updates (with perhaps some iPad compatibility thrown into the former). For Enterprise IT admins, the iPhone Configuration Utility will now let you manage iPads as well as iPhones.

If you update any of the above, let us know how they work for you.

Apple’s iPhone Configuration Utility went to 2.0 just after the iPhone itself hit OS 3.0. The iCU is intended to allow system administrators to set up iPhones for use in the corporate environments, namely by creating, maintaining, and distributing configuration files for enterprise devices.

Macworld took a look at the new version and while they like the no hassle upgrade from 1.0, new vertical feature setup, LDAP, CalDAV, and SCEP support, the ability to prevent profiles from being removed by the user, restrictions (like parental controls) including locking out the cameras, and the ability to push out profiles via SCEP, they weren’t as thrilled with the lack of SCEP documentation, and limited LDAP support.

Check out the full article for details and if you’re using iCU 2.0, let us know how it’s working for your enterprise.