Formerly two of the biggest, more fierce rivals in the computer industry, Apple and IBM have now teamed up to undertake one of the largest joint-ventures the mobile world has ever seen.
The exclusive partnership will see IBM developing apps and providing services for iOS. These will be with a distinct business-orientation, in an attempt to make Apple’s popular portables more useful in the working world.
IBM will develop over 100 apps, utilising its extensive catalogue of data and analytics to create more enterprise-friendly tools. Apps will be industry-specific, native and developed exclusively for iOS.
IBM will also provide specialist Cloud services. Security, analytics, device management and mobile integration will all be offered, as well as a new ‘Apple Care for Enterprise’ service.
Corporate customers will also be able to purchase iPads and iPhones from a special IBM activation programme, which will see the devices come with IBM’s new apps and software pre-installed.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said in an announcement, “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.”
Details of the financial breakdown of the deal are as yet unknown.
Source
