Rivals Apple and IBM have announced an exclusive partnership to transform enterprise mobility through a new class of business apps—bringing IBM’s big data and analytics capabilities to iPhone and iPad.
In a statement Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. said, “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.”
Together the firms will build more than 100 industry-specific enterprise solutions including native apps, developed exclusively from the ground up, for iPhone and iPad. They will bring IBM cloud services to iOS, including device management, security, analytics and mobile integration and will also have the new AppleCare service and support offering tailored to the needs of the enterprise and use new packaged offerings from IBM for device activation, supply and management.This deal would not have happened 30 years ago due to fued between IBM and Apple. While Apple wanted to put the PC into every home, IBM wanted to build huge mainframes for entreprises. By bring IBM’s big data analytics to iOS nad putting iPhones into entreprise users hands plus support and device care, Apple and IBM’s move is revolutionary and benefits the end entreprise consumer.
As part of the exclusive IBM MobileFirst for iOS agreement, IBM will also sell iPhones and iPads with the industry-specific solutions to business clients worldwide.
“Mobility—combined with the phenomena of data and cloud—is transforming business and our industry in historic ways, allowing people to re-imagine work, industries and professions,” said Ginni Rometty, IBM Chairman, President and CEO. “This alliance with Apple will build on our momentum in bringing these innovations to our clients globally, and leverages IBM’s leadership in analytics, cloud, software and services. We are delighted to be teaming with Apple, whose innovations have transformed our lives in ways we take for granted, but can’t imagine living without. Our alliance will bring the same kind of transformation to the way people work, industries operate and companies perform.”