Apple and IBM have joined forces to develop business - grade iOS apps , which could have big backlash for the iPad , developers and the future of enterprise .
But what does it all have in mind ? How important is enterprise to Apple ? And is there any verity to the rumour thatApple is developing a bigger iPad Pro with enterprise users in mind ?
Apple and IBM annunciate their partnership back in July 2014 , and then in December 2015 , the two companies harbinger they were to launch 100 business - centric native iPhone and iPad apps onIBM ’s ‘ Mobile First ’ swarm platform , while also combining on the testing and maintenance of these apps , gimmick reselling , leasing , enrollment and activation , and facilitate desk reenforcement .
The partnership matches the humanity ’s top hardware and OS manufacturer with IBM , the leader in endeavour IT solutions and services , as well as software developing security system and analytics . The intent is clear ; for job to push any data or process to an employee with an iOS equipment .
The first apps include Field Connect ( for field technician ) , Passenger Care ( airline client service faculty ) , Advisor Alerts ( fiscal professionals ) , Dynamic Buy ( real - time data point to retailer on product public presentation ) and Incident Aware ( natural law enforcement ) , with the rest period due later this year .
Apple products and BYOD
Mention ‘ Bring Your Own twist ’ to any IT director and you ’re probable to see panic slam across their face , as they consider the indigence to manage data , twist , save insurance and maintain conformity .
This situation is n’t singular to Apple devices of class , but Io has led the land - your - own epoch since the first iPad , and to this day IT teams are still struggling to manage the deluge , regardless if they ’ve deployed Mobile gadget Management ( MDM ) or Mobile app Management ( MAM ) solutions .
Despite this , it is clear from this agreement that BYOD is here to stay ; enterprise are now realising the benefits and ca n’t backtrack , so attention must turn to improve apps , securing data and aligning mobility with existing business operation .
Apple enterprise security and confidentiality
As mentioned above , IT departments have shinny with deal mobility , as well as getting visibleness on how these devices are used .
The IBM partnership should hopefully serve resolve that trouble ; all the apps are controlled by the unafraid MobileFirst political program , which is technically based on IBM ’s Maas360 MDM weapons platform , while IBM is said to have ‘ peculiar admittance right to sure surety feature on the twist that others will not have access to ’ .
For object lesson , some apps can blank the screen or log - out if you shake the machine , so confidential data is immediately conceal . A shingle can also be used to muster up help .
IBM will also have a key part in data and dealing protection , and business analytics . Mobile direction from a managed services provider may be the agency forward for a lot of companies .
Apple enterprise apps
Every app computer storage is dominated by consumer titles , especially games as making the next Flappy Birds has always been cool and more remunerative than , say , the next Salesforce .
Yet app development companies have progressively been building custom iOS apps for business , and this latest slew raise the stakes given the size and resource of the companies involved , and the tier of supporting they will render .
These are not ported Windows or reworked vane apps – they are mobile - first , optimised for iOS8 , and will incorporate with any surround . And with Apple ’s continued work with developer on the Swift computer programming language , as well as HealthKit and CarPlay , expect more enterprisingness innovation going forward .
Demand for a 12in iPad
Apple is reportedly working on a declamatory 12.9 - in ‘ iPad Pro ’ and that ’s perhaps unsurprising hand the iPad ’s sales slump and the comparative success of Microsoft ’s Surface tablets .
A gravid iPad would go even further than the latest iPad in replacing laptop in endeavor , with commercial enterprise executives likely to be attracted by the extra screen land .
There is , however , one potential problem on the purview ; Apple has plainly delayed production of the 12.9 - inch liquid crystal display panels , seek stimulus from partners on how it can be made more attractive to business .
There has been talk of easier tools for deploying apps and substance abuser profile and , most interestingly , rumours of a USB 3.0 port , which would be a huge change .
Read : iPad Pro , 12 in iPad bruit
iPad adoption in the enterprise
Apple has realise that enterprisingness is where the money is , from roving applications and business supporting through to the more obvious iPad and iPhone flood .
The house knew that already but perhaps has control the cathode-ray oscilloscope for succeeding ontogenesis . IDC figures point only 20 % of businesses have adopt the iPad , compare to 60 % of Macs while an ESG survey reveals 30 percent of enterprises now mean to accelerate their economic consumption of iOS as a resolution of partnership .
“ Apple enter the deal to be able to talk to endeavor in a language they understand without feature to change who Apple is at nub : a consumer company , ” Carolina Milanesi , chief of research at Kantar , told Macworld . “ With IBM they gain channel presence , back end bread and butter and apps support all that is needed to move iPads and iPhones from BYOD to enterprise liable . ”
“ For Apple , this deal cross off their renewed attempt to get a better hold of the enterprisingness market . It ’s well hump that Apple has never been successful in this , and whether it was because of disregard endeavour need or simply because of inability to develop the necessary services in - house , can be debated , ” wrote Alexei Balaganski , senior analyst at Kuppinger Cole , last year .
Apple and IBM partnership
This partnership is n’t just about boosting iPad espousal , dethrone BlackBerry or eclipsing Android ; it could be used to aim conventional microcomputer .
The iPad has long been talk about as personal computer - beater but that becomes a serious proposition with native apps , a channel focal point and supporting business sector analytics . In fact , some analysts think this partnership could bring in 42 million new users for Apple .
Time will separate the partnership will heighten Apple ’s helping hand in initiative but it could also lead on to others equipment , consider Apple ’s work with CarPlay , iBeacons and now iWatch . IBM built one of the first , a Linux - based ‘ WatchPad ’ , in 2001 aiming , and purpose at enterprise .
“ There is no question though that Apple Watch will make its way into go-ahead through users and that enterprises will have to figure out what the ramifications are , ” added Milanesi . “ With IBM , Apple could reckon of delivering specific apps in the same way they are doing for tablets and force value for organisation . ”