Apple + IBM: Connecting the dots

12 years ago

“Apple has just partnered with IBM to deliver a set of mobile solutions for the enterprise that will encompass: Specific big data mobile applications; a new iOS tailored cloud service; new enterprise level AppleCare support services from Apple, and new package from IBM for mobile device management,” J. M. Manness writes for Seeking Alpha. “Apple CEO Tim Cook remarked in a CNBC interview: ‘I think it is absolutely huge. It’s landmark.'”

“By exclusively partnering with Apple, IBM will be providing the most complete, comprehensive, and secure solution to integrate with iOS,” Manness writes. “Equally important, the 100+ solutions on which the two are collaborating will likely be very creative products that will put them far ahead of any other company. This is a lot of apps, and none of them trivial I am sure. This is going to touch a lot of different industries in a very impressive way. You can look forward to Cook introducing some of these to great fanfare at the iPhone and/or iPad announcements. Certainly one or two will be featured at the presentation, and they will be very slick.”

“In my years of blogging, and before that commenting on posts, one of the gripes from business IT folks that I came across most often, and seemed to me to be most legitimate, was that of the lack of real business level support from Apple. Here Apple will make out big. While they will provide elevated support online, they will immediately have thousands of technicians available to do on-site service. And these are service people who already know their customers. This is something that could not be duplicated without investing years to build it up,” Manness writes. “One has to wonder if the relationship will grow to include Mac support by IBM service personnel. Even if it does not, the influx of iDevices will only continue the growth of Macs in the workplace. Think of the new Continuity features of the upcoming Yosemite release of Mac OSX. These will make using a Mac even more compelling.”

Read more in the full article here.

In a companion article, Manness covers “hidden implications” of the deal, writing, ‘IBM owns an IC fab in Essex Junction, Vermont. There is speculation that it will be sold, possibly to GlobalFoundries. Meanwhile, NetworkWorld reports: ‘IBM will pour US$3 billion into computing and chip materials research over the next five years, as it rethinks computer design and looks to a future that may not involve silicon chips.'”

“Part of that research is to reach the 7 nm process level, and beyond,” Manness writes. “Apple has two interests in this. First, they have continued to surprise the integrated chip world with their bold designs of their A-series processors. They are always trying to squeeze the best processing power out of a given design system. They would love to get their hands on cutting-edge chip processes technology.”

“Now add that Apple would also like to shift its processor fabrication away from Samsung, due to other conflicts,” Manness writes. “With all this, one has to wonder if Apple is working with IBM in this field as well.”

Read more in the full article here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “farkas” for the heads up.]