Apple and IBM partnership

There are new waves sent in tech world. Partnership of Apple and IBM can be the start of new era in technology. Last time, Apple and IBM teamed up was in early 1990s to advance a rival to Intel chips. That partnership ultimately fell flat. However, this partnership is looking better on paper. Apple partnership with IBM may deliver more value to Apple than just expanding the iPad and iPhone generation in the business world.

Although the partnership will certainly focus on creating business apps, the focus on creating industry-specific apps may boost Apple’s fortunes in one of the fields that it is actively seeking to disrupt-health care. Apple and IBM shared vision for this partnership is to put in the hands of business professionals everywhere the unique capabilities of iPad’s and iPhone’s with a company knowledge, data, analytics and workflows. The companies are planning to release more than 100 industry-specific enterprise solutions including apps developed for the iOS platform, along with IBM cloud services, security, and analytics. IBM will also sell Apple products tailored to specific industries.

Apple will create a new service and support offering tailored help, while IBM will manage some of the functions like device activation and security. This deal also includes a private app catalog, and helps business customers transform IBM services for mobile devices. The new offerings will be pushed through Apple’s new mobile operating system, iOS 8, which was launched in June.

IBM has a long history of providing enterprise IT solutions across the spectrum of healthcare organizations. That experience and IBM’s relationship with health-related organizations is a huge entry point for Apple into the health IT market for its devices, and could also give Apple’s Health kit APIs and Health application. IBM will also provide cloud functionality and services for business use on iOS based mobile platforms, helping to bring AppleCare customer service to the business segment. Microsoft gave new emphasis on a cloud first, mobile first structure, the teaming of two tech giants should be very worrying for Microsoft.