Long time rivals Apple and IBM have finally decided to set aside their enmity in favour of a global partnership deal that will see the duo creating iOS business applications for the iPhone and iPad.
The companies on Tuesday announced that they have entered into a strategic partnership deal to develop more than 100 new apps targeting different industries including retail, banking, travel, healthcare, transportation and telecommunications for the iPhone and iPad by the fall of 2015. The apps will be supported by Apple’s hardware warranty and customer service, AppleCare.
IBM will be optimizing its “unique cloud services” for iOS, including device management, security, analytics and mobile integration. In addition, the partnership also aims to expand Apple’s corporate reach.
As part of the deal, more than 100,000 IBM consultants and software developers will support selling the Cupertino’s iPhones and iPads installed with newly developed industry specific applications to its worldwide corporate customers.
Announcing the partnership, IBM’s Chairman, President and CEO, Ginny Rometty said the collaboration will help in building up the company’s momentum in bringing innovations for its global clients. Rometty promised that the deal will aid in transforming the way people work, industries operate and companies perform.
Apple CEO Tim Cook, calling the alliance as a “radical step,” said it to be the very first time that the Cupertino is bringing IBM’s renowned big data analytics to its iOS devices, thereby opening up a large market opportunity for the company.
Financial terms of the deal are yet to be disclosed. Launch of the first batch of apps is expected to coincide with the release of Apple’s next mobile software iteration, iOS 8.
