Apple and IBM have teamed up to transform enterprise mobility through a new class of business apps—bringing IBM’s big data and analytics capabilities to iPhone and iPad.
The partnership aims to redefine the way work will get done, address key industry mobility challenges, and spark true mobile-led business change—grounded in four core capabilities:
- A new class of more than 100 industry-specific business solutions including native apps, developed from the ground up, for iPhone and iPad
- 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 business
- New packaged offerings from IBM for device activation, supply, and management
The new IBM MobileFirst for iOS solutions will be built on IBM’s big data and analytics capabilities, with Apple’s consumer experience, hardware and software integration, and developer platform. The combination will create apps that can change specific aspects of how businesses and employees work using iPhone and iPad. As part of the IBM MobileFirst for iOS agreement, IBM will also sell iPhones and iPads with the industry-specific solutions to business clients worldwide.
Apple and IBM’s shared vision for this partnership is to put in the hands of business professionals everywhere the unique capabilities of iPads and iPhones with a company’s knowledge, data, analytics, and workflows. The two companies are working together to deliver the elements of business mobile solutions including:
- 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 that will become available starting this fall and into 2015.
- IBM MobileFirst Platform for iOS will offer services required for 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 MobileFirst Supply and Management for device supply, activation, and management services for iPhone and iPad, with leasing options.
For more information on the new Apple and IBM solutions, visit†www.ibm.com/MobileFirstForiOS†or†www.apple.com/ipad/business.
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