“The old adage, ‘If you can’t beat them, join them,’ is resonating across the Microsoft channel these days as the proliferation of Apple iPhones, iPads and Macs shows no sign of slowing down,” Jeffrey Schwartz reports for Redmond Channel Partner.
“Partners can’t even attend events at Microsoft headquarters in Redmond without seeing half of their peers taking notes on iPads or checking e-mail on iPhones,” Schwartz reports. “The result: more channel partners that have historically sold and supported Windows-based client solutions are for the first time getting up to speed on — if not certified in — iOS, the platform that powers iPhones and iPads… Further validating Apple’s inroads into businesses, more than one in five workers, or 21 percent, use at least one Apple product for work, according to a survey of 10,000 workers worldwide by Forrester Research Inc. published in late January. Much of that is being driven by growth of iPads and iPhones, though the use of Macs is increasing as well.”
Schwartz reports, “Last year Apple hired longtime Microsoft channel executive Francois Daumard to assume the newly created role of iPhone and iPad channel development manager, to help bring on Microsoft partners to deploy these devices in accounts that require integration with Exchange and Windows Server environments. Apple has quietly built up a mobility practice looking to recruit partners in the Apple Consultants Network, or ACN. Daumard declined to comment, but those that have embarked on the ACN Mobility Technical Competency (MTC) say they like what he has done so far.”
Much more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Brawndo Drinker” for the heads up.]