Tech
Apple and IBM
Join Forces to Produce Mobile Products
I
ndustry watchers did not see this
coming, but they are not totally
surprised as Apple and IBM are
joining forces to expand mobile products
and applications in the enterprise arena.
The partnership between former competitors was announced on Tuesday, July 16,
and will eventually involve both companies working together to produce almost
100 apps for a wide variety of industries.
Some of the applications will be released
later in the fall of this year, and it is expected that data analysis tools from IBM
will be featured.
It is not the first time that Apple and
IBM have teamed up, as three unsuccessful attempts were made in the 1990s,
but this time is hopefully different. The
growth in the mobile web is undeniable,
and studies already suggest that activity
in the mobile web space now surpasses
that of desktop communications. The
press release from Apple states that the
relationship is developed to allow delivery of elements that are essential in the
mobile enterprise environment, so it does
appear that the focus is appropriate.
72
Bollywood Showtime
While pledging to improve security,
when work is done with mobile devices,
the combined enterprise will collaborate
on an IBM MobileFirst solution for iOS
powered devices. The product line, to be
introduced in the autumn of 2014, will
include apps, designed for businesses
involved in retail, banking, healthcare,
transportation travel and telecommunications.
The combined unit is expected to offer a package that will include supplying
and managing devices that support the
iPhone, iPad and other iOS devices along
with options for leasing. In addition to
the IBM MobileFirst Platform for development, support and service will be provided by AppleCare, where IT departments
can receive assistance from Apple, and
IBM will provide service on-site.
The combination can indeed be synergistic, as Apple CEO Tim Cook admits
that Apple’s strength is in the consumer
market and does not focus on corporate
customers, while IBM has invested heavily on analytics and now hopes to expand
the reach. In a recent interview, Cook
described the alliance as a combination
of the best of both companies. IBM CEO
Ginni Rometty was equally effusive. She
expects new industries and professions
will be developed, as the power that is
inherent in the enterprise version of the
mobile space is released. By joining forces, IBM and Apple hope to build mobile
applications for the iPhone and iPad that
do more than check email and appointments, and Cook says that iOS is already
used by several Fortune 500 companies.
IBM and Apple can hope that the
alliance will boost revenues, as concerns
about revenue growth have risen among
investors. The announcement was made
along with the backdrop of the highly anticipated release of Apple’s new iPhone
and iWatch. What is even more intriguing
is the convergence of two companies
that were once bitter rivals. It appears
that both companies may have evolved
and moved in different paths as IBM is
no longer in the PC market. By joining
forces with Apple to produce mobile
products, the combined units of Apple
and IBM, may now be competing with
Blackberry, which has alw