International Business Machines (IBM) and Apple has announced a strategic partnership which will bring enterprise mobility to the iPhone and iPad, the company announced on Tuesday. With IBM’s hardware unit continuing with its slump, the company is looking to focus more on the software and services unit; the announcement was also made two days before IBM’s second quarter earning would be announced.
IBM is expected to create over 100 business tailored apps for the iOS and the preloaded device would be sold by Apple to companies sround the world. With Apple striving to make its device popular in the enterprise market, partnering with IBM would bring address key challenges in four core capabilities, and among them are:
• IBM would offer Cloud services for the iOS as well as security, device management and analytics features.
• Applecare service and support for enterprise customers; with over 100,000 employees available for the initiative.
Under the agreement, IBM would sell iPhones and iPads tailored with enterprise solution to its clients dubbed the MobileFirst for iOS Solutions. The MobileFirst for iOS is powered by IBM’s cloud service and the devices would as mentioned have support from the AppleCare.
“iPhone and iPad are the best mobile devices in the world and have transformed the way people work with over 98 percent of the Fortune 500 and over 92 percent of the Global 500 using iOS devices in their business today,” Cook said in the press release. “For the first time ever we’re putting IBM’s renowned big data analytics at iOS users’ fingertips, which opens up a large market opportunity for Apple. This is a radical step for enterprise and something that only Apple and IBM can deliver.”
The first set of IBM MobileFirst iOS apps (made for business apps) would be available starting this fall and by 2015. Apple is looking to pitch itself against Google, Blackberry, Samsung.
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