SURPRISE, Apple and IBM have announced a mutual embrace that will give the world's large enterprises better mobility.
We hear better mobility and we think mobile phones. We aren't wrong, The firms said that they have "forged a global partnership" that will bring tried and tested IBM enterprise services to the shiny pocket botherers iPhone and iPad.
We are in solid press release territory here, and the talk is of "transforming" enterprise mobility.
This will happen on a few fronts, for example the plan is to release 100 enterprise tools, including apps, and build up cloud services for iOS including device management and security features.
As part of the deal Big Blue will sell enterprise flavoured iThings to its customers, while the two companies will work on business specific software. IBM and Apple do not appear to have much in common, but the two are convinced that they will make the marriage work, if only for the sake of the enterprise.
"iPhone and iPad are the best mobile devices in the world and have transformed the way people work with over 98 percent of the Fortune 500 and over 92 percent of the Global 500 using iOS devices in their business today," said Apple CEO Tim Cook.
"For the first time ever 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."
IBM chairman, CEO and president Ginni Rometty agreed and issued some kind words toward Cupertino.
"This alliance with Apple will build on our momentum in bringing these innovations to our clients globally, and leverages IBM's leadership in analytics, cloud, software and services. We are delighted to be teaming with Apple, whose innovations have transformed our lives in ways we take for granted, but can't imagine living without," Rometty said.
"Our alliance will bring the same kind of transformation to the way people work, industries operate and companies perform."
