Apple, IBM Will Woo Enterprises: Mobile Bombshell

The two former rivals join forces to sell enterprises on iOS hardware and business apps backed by IBM services. Can the duo dominate the enterprise mobile market?

Apple and IBM on Tuesday entered into an exclusive partnership to sell Apple hardware to enterprise customers and to develop iOS apps tied to IBM services.

The two companies announced IBM's MobileFirst Platform for iOS, a planned portfolio of industry-specific enterprise apps for Apple iPhone and iPad that integrate IBM cloud services. IBM launched its MobileFirst Platform last year, but that iteration wasn't focused exclusively on iOS.

With the help of 100,000 salespeople, consultants, and developers, IBM will sell Apple iPhones and iPads, offering device activation, supply, and management through a program called IBM MobileFirst Supply and Management. Apple will add to the mix by introducing an enterprise support program, AppleCare for Enterprise, augmented by IBM on-site support.

Mobility, in conjunction with data analysis and cloud services, is transforming business, argues IBM CEO Ginni Rometty. "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," she said in a statement.

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