Earlier in July, two tech titans announced a new partnership – “MobileFirst for iOS.”
Over the past two years, IBM has developed more than 100 native iOS apps and services tailored to multiple industries, while Apple will introduce a new AppleCare designed specifically for enterprise customers.
The big news is the new IBM MobileFirst Supply and Management program, which supplies enterprise customers with device packages, activation and management services all built around Apple’s iPhone and iPad. IBM is also offering hardware leasing options.
At a recent joint press conference, Ginni Rometty, IBM’s CEO said:
“I know that both of us agree on the top three things we are going to accomplish together. The first is growth for both of our companies. The second thing is remake business and re-envision professions by truly unlocking mobility in the enterprise such that it adds value. Third is to address the biggest inhibitor to mobile in the enterprise – security.”
As part of the MobileFirst for iOS deal, IBM’s 100,000 salespeople, consultants, and developers will sell iPhones and iPads with the industry-specific solutions to business clients worldwide. Aside from the tailor-made software, IBM will also offer services like mass device management, security, analytics and mobile integration. Apple’s iPhone and iPad will be offered in packaged solutions from IBM for device activation, supply and management.
As for support, Apple will provide a special class of AppleCare services to customers that includes telephone and email support, while IBM is to handle on-site repairs.
Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook said:
“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.”
The companies will collaborate to build IBM MobileFirst for iOS Solutions—a new class of “made-for-business apps” targeting specific industry issues and opportunities in retail, healthcare, banking, travel and transportation, telecommunications and insurance, among others, that will become available starting this fall and into 2015.
In addition to the IBM MobileFirst private app catalog, it also delivers services like analytics, workflow, cloud storage, device management, security, and integration. It also includes data and transaction security services, and a productivity suite. These capabilities are offered through on-premises software and through Bluemix, IBM’s cloud development platform.
Frank Gillett, an analyst with Forrester Research, cheered the deal:
“The Apple IBM partnership is a landmark agreement. Given IBM’s market strength and coverage, this partnership gives Apple enterprise capabilities and credibility at one stroke — and gives IBM a premium advantage in the race for mobile enterprise
leadership . Look for Google and leading enterprise suppliers to seek partnerships that offer a credible alternative.”
Van Baker, VP and research director for Gartner’s Mobile and Client Computing Services, says the deal has huge potential because the two companies are extraordinarily complementary.
“It’s basically taking a company that has nothing but credibility in the enterprise space…and combines it with a company that dominates the consumer-facing mobile device market.”
Baker expects IBM Global Services to drive the deal, which will allow Apple to sit back and focus on its traditional strengths, hardware and software design. And if things goes well, he speculates, we might see further collaboration like Apple’s Siri as a front-end for IBM’s Watson.
Rometty summed up the new partnership deal saying:
“Tim and I agree that the result will be to unlock value in the enterprise that isn’t there today for lots of professions and loads of industries.”
Cook closed with these words:
“In order to deliver on the promise of enterprise mobility in a big way takes Apple and IBM doing what each does best. I think we fit together like a puzzle. This partnership is profound, it’s landmark and it’s historic. We’ve come from 30 years ago being competitors, to today being incredibly complimentary partners.“
Forrester’s Gillett looks for an credible Android response. If Google, Samsung, HP and even Lenovo banded together in some sort of Android enterprise alliance, the combination could be formidable. Few companies have, however, been able to combine forces to woo the enterprise and team Android can’t put together a one-stop partnership the way Apple and IBM did.