Apple, IBM announce significant partnership to push iOS devices for business

In major news, IBM and Apple have just announced a sweeping partnership to bring IBM services to iOS devices and much more. The companies will work together in four major ways:

• a new class of more than 100 industry-specific enterprise solutions including native apps, developed exclusively from the ground up, for iPhone and iPad; • unique IBM cloud services optimized for iOS, including device management, security, analytics and mobile integration; • new AppleCare® service and support offering tailored to the needs of the enterprise; and • new packaged offerings from IBM for device activation, supply and management.

IBM is also planning to sell both iPhones and iPads to its corporate customers. Apple CEO Tim Cook and IBM head Ginni Rometty, pictured above, also spoke to Re/Code about the deal:

“If you were building a puzzle they would fit nicely together with no overlap,” Cook said of the relationship. “We do not compete on anything. And when you do that you end up with something better than either of you could produce yourself.” Calling Apple the “gold standard for consumers,” Rometty said the team-up will allow the two giants to address significant opportunities facing large businesses. “We will get to remake professions and unlock value that companies don’t yet have,” she said. “We’re addressing serious issues that before this had been inhibiting deployment of wireless in the enterprise.”

For other recent news today, see: Report: Apple's 'iPhone 6' battery supply issues have been resolved, Apple may be forced to abandon the Touch ID name, and Report says 3 Apple 'iWatches' are coming, along with an 'iPad Pro.'

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