Apple adds Cisco Systems to its roster, to tackle enterprise customers
The corporate technology market has now reached over 2 Trillion dollars in enterprise spending. By this token, Apple is making a substantial effort in challenging both its rivals Microsoft and Google, with powerful partnerships aimed at expanding the reach of iOS devices in the corporate world.
Apple’s latest ally was revealed yesterday, with Tim Cook and Cisco Systems Chairman John Chambers, announcing a partnership, which took both companies almost a year to reach. The emphasis on business is stronger now than it ever has, with tech companies heading towards a leveling of the plainfield, thanks to mobile and cloud technologies. With Cisco’s dominant role in enterprise networking solutions, Apple’s biggest gain in this deal is a rock-solid infrastructure for deployment and management of iOS and Mac devices to both customers.
One of the highlights of the deal is better integration of iPhones with office phone systems within an organization, which could also mean iOS device integration within Cisco’s own infrastructure. Priority to wireless communication within organizations will also be the result of this partnership, called “fast lane”, which places the emphasis on iOS devices within a company’s network, for web connections, particularly when it comes to business applications.
IBM and Apple have been partners since last year, and since then, a wide array of specialized iOS business applications have been deployed to iPad and iPhone devices. The partnership with IBM has not only been beneficial to the proliferation of iOS devices in the workplace. Mac products have found their way to IBM’s own employees, in the wake of a new deal that points to IBM’s commitment to purchase over 200 thousand MacBooks a year, to replace its current PC-based infrastructure.
How times have changed
The driving force behind Apple’s push to cater to enterprise customers is part of the natural evolution of products that are perfect for business, like the iPad, a tablet that offers the easiest way possible to display information, showcase products and collaborate, in one lightweight, elegant, low-profile device.
During the PC era, Apple was known as a consumer-focused company, while Microsoft was very much dedicated to tend to business customers, which resulted in Microsoft dominating in enterprise, alongside IBM, whom, in turns, eventually relinquished its role as a PC manufacturer in 2004 when it sold its consumer computing business to Lenovo.
By the same token, Microsoft is still very interested in providing solutions to business customers, however, Microsoft’s approach is broadly different than Apple’s, and centers on software solutions and a unified operating system. In these respects, Apple could have a leg up on the competition to win customers who are already using Apple products, prior to exploring apps and infrastructures available as part of the powerful partnerships established with IBM and Cisco.