Apple and IBM announce enterprise partnership

[Arthur]

Source: Apple / IBM (via The Verge)

 

Apple and IBM have just announced what the companies describe as a "landmark partnership" designed to "redefine the way work will get done, address key industry mobility challenges and spark true mobile-led business change." Put more simply, they're aiming to combine their respective strengths and aggressively tackle the enterprise market. IBM says it will contribute its big data and analytics expertise, with Apple offering the "elegant user experience of iPhone and iPad." The move could transform Apple, which ordinarily focuses squarely on consumers, into a true business powerhouse. It could also touch off a new battle with Microsoft, which now more than ever is focused on the enterprise and cloud services.

 

IBM will sell iOS devices to corporate clients that come preloaded with enterprise software designed in collaboration with Apple; those apps will become available "starting this fall" with more debuting in 2015. Both companies are promising "a new category of mobile apps" that address the needs of specific industries like "retail, healthcare, banking, travel, telecommunications and insurance." The apps will of course make heavy use of IBM's cloud infrastructure, all the while coexisting with Apple's own services like iCloud. Apple also announced that it plans to add a new "AppleCare for Enterprise" customer service tier that will provide IT departments and users with 24/7 support.

 

[seawolf]

...and Steve Jobs just rolled over in his grave

 

It will either spell the beginning of the end for Apple or be the beginning of a new dominant player in the Enterprise market. Or, it could just be much ado about nothing and fizzle in a twinkling like so many other IBM ventures.

[FN-GM]

I really hope they get this right. Its what we have been after for years! Just when we thought apple was ditching the enterprise market!

[SYNACK]

Ick, the company that makes software take gigs of storage for a simple config utility and the company that makes ui for people who have trouble working crayons. Is this the introduction to Idiocrocy in real life.

[XiJ]

Lol at the Haterz

[XiJ]

I really hope they get this right. Its what we have been after for years! Just when we thought apple was ditching the enterprise market!

 

Yep. People have moaned apple

Don't cater for the enterprise market - apple announce partnership with huge hitter.

 

I hope some good features will filter down to the education market too

[localzuk]

Let's wait and see which direction they go with it. IBM aren't known for their cheap/small systems, so I wonder if anything will come out suitable for the SME, or will they focus on Fortune 500 companies?