Apple and IBM have announced an exclusive partnership designed to transform enterprise mobility through a new class of business apps — bringing IBM’s big data and analytics capabilities to the iPhone and iPad. The companies say the partnership is grounded in four core capabilities:
° A new class of more than 100 industry-specific enterprise solutions including native apps, developed exclusively from the ground up, for the iPhone and iPad;
° Unique IBM cloud services optimized for iOS, including device management, security, analytics and mobile integration;
° New AppleCare service and support offering tailored to the needs of the enterprise;
° New packaged offerings from IBM for device activation, supply and management.
Apple and IBM say the new IBM MobileFirst for iOS solutions will be built in an exclusive collaboration: IBM’s big data and analytics capabilities, with the power of more than 100,000 IBM industry and domain consultants and software developers behind it, fused with Apple’s consumer experience, hardware and software integration and developer platform. 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.
"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% of the Global 500 using iOS devices in their business today," says Apple CEO Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. "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."
"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," says 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."
Specifically, the two companies say they're working together to deliver the essential elements of enterprise mobile solutions:
° Mobile solutions that transform business: The companies will collaborate to build IBM MobileFirst for iOS Solutions—a new class of "made-for-business apps" targeting specific industry issues or opportunities in retail, healthcare, banking, travel and transportation, telecommunications and insurance, among others, that will become available starting this fall and into 2015.
° Mobile platform: The IBM MobileFirst Platform for iOS will deliver the services required for an end-to-end enterprise capability, from analytics, workflow and cloud storage, to fleet-scale device management, security and integration.
Enhanced mobile management includes a private app catalog, data and transaction security services, and productivity suite for all IBM MobileFirst for iOS solutions. In addition to on-premise software solutions, all these services will be available on Bluemix—IBM’s development platform on the IBM Cloud Marketplace.
AppleCare for Enterprise will provide IT departments and end users with 24/7 assistance from Apple’s customer support group, with on-site service delivered by IBM.
IBM is introducing IBM MobileFirst Supply and Management for device supply, activation and management services for the iPhone and iPad, with leasing options.
For more information regarding the new Apple and IBM solutions, go to http://tinyurl.com/oe5gz7m or http://tinyurl.com/ntnxclu.
