International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation provides information technology (IT) products and services worldwide. The company’s Global Technology Services segment provides IT infrastructure and business process services, including outsourcing, process, integrated technology, cloud, and technology support.
Apple, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets mobile communication and media devices, personal computers, portable digital music players, and sells a variety of related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications. Its products and services include iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, iPod, Apple TV, a portfolio of consumer and professional software applications, the iOS and OS X operating systems, iCloud, and accessories, service and support offerings.
How IBM & APPLE came in partnership business form rivals?
Few years ago, Apple and IBM were fierce rivals, with Apple's machines going up against those from IBM in the early 80s. Apple's now-iconic "1984" commercial took aim at IBM, depicting the firm as Big Brother and its supporters as lifeless followers.Their rivalry didn't exactly cool down after that, though. As recently as 2012, IBM blocked Siri on iPhones used for work purposes over data storage concerns. And in 2009, Apple and IBM went to court over Apple's hiring of IBM exec Mark Papermaster as Apple's new senior vice president of devices hardware engineering.But business is business, and the two companies have apparently put aside their differences. Apple made a big push for the enterprise at its Worldwide Developer Conference in June-2014, and perhaps IBM can help it get there.
Apple Inc and IBM have signed up about 50 initial
corporate clients for software solutions and apps developed jointly under their
recently forged strategic alliance. The two companies, which in July announced
they would team up to sell iPads and iPhones with specialized software to
corporate and government customers, will announce the first batch of apps and
software next month. Their alliance is aimed at helping Apple delve more deeply
into the business of serving corporate clients, a business now dominated by the
likes of IBM, Hewlett Packard and Microsoft Corp.
Apple will allow IBM software on its phones, and IBM will sell iOS devices
to business clients. Apple has teamed up with IBM to bring IBM's enterprise
software to Apple's lineup of iOS devices.As part of the exclusive IBM
MobileFirst for iOS deal, IBM will sell iPhones and iPads loaded
with software for its business clients."For the first time ever they're
putting IBM's renowned big data analytics at iOS users' fingertips, which opens
up a large market opportunity for Apple," Apple is attracted to the enterprise market because device sales there could generate higher profit margins. In this case, IBM may be buying specially configured iPhones and iPads in bulk to resell to specific customers.
Why the Apple-IBM deal matters
Apple & IBM deals more than 100 industry-specific enterprise solutions, including native apps, developed exclusively for iPhone and iPad; IBM cloud services optimized for iOS; AppleCare tailored for enterprise customers; and Apple devices directly from IBM. The deal appears to help the companies break into areas both have been eyeing. Apple can push deeper into the enterprise with the backing of IBM, a well-known name in the space. And IBM, which has lagged in recent years despite its illustrious history, gets an injection of Apple "cool" and can offer up products that businesses really want.The joint Apple-IBM "made for business" apps are expected to be released this fall and into 2015. They will target specific industries, like retail, healthcare, banking, travel and transportation, telecommunications and insurance, and more.
The first products from Apple’s mobile enterprise partnership with IBM will roll out next month which including the banking, government, insurance, retail, telecommunications and travel and transport sectors. Apple did not share specific products details, but the one-time PC rivals are working closely together. IBM is creating iOS-specific security, analytic and management tools and will resell iPhones and iPads. Apple will roll out new support services for businesses.
Advantages of this Partnership
IBM and Apple make the perfect alliance because one has what the other does not.IBM has the strength in cloud, enterprise storage, enterprise (big iron) computing, and a foothold in the enterprise as a whole. Apple has all but tied up the consumer market for phones, music players, and tablets. It also has a fair share of the desktop market with its Macbook Air, Macbook Pro, and Mac mini.There are lot of advantages that are given below:
- IBM will allow Apple to integrate Watson power into its computers and gadgets.
- IBM will supply enterprise cloud storage for Apple devices.
- Apple will become more enterprise friendly.
- iOS will be the new enterprise desktop computing environment for all devices.
- IBM and Apple will start or purchase a third company to produce this new service-based operating system.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/20/us-apple-results-cfo-idUSKCN0I929120141020
http://www.cnet.com/news/apple-ibm-today-microsoft-tomorrow-google/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc.
http://inventors.about.com/od/computersandinternet/a/Ibm-History.htm
