Apple and IBM join forces in landmark push for iOS in enterprise

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  • Reply 161 of 249
    Now I know why Larry Page criticises Tim Cook
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  • Reply 162 of 249
    rogifanrogifan Posts: 10,669member
    Maybe a smokescreen?

    I've read practically every one of the comments about this historic partnership but I've seen no mention of the possibility of Apple and IBM teaming up for payment systems. IBM has supplied and supported many large (and small) retail chains with point-of-sale systems (hardware & software) for many, many years and Apple has the motherlode of credit cards on file*. Is it just me or is there a huge possibility that this partnership's dark horse is the Apple payment system that's been rumored and speculated about?

    (edit) *...and takes the point-of-sale mobile with iOS.
    Hmm...that certainly is intriguing. I hope this deal brings a lot more collaboration. Right now I give the edge to Google Now and Cortana, but Siri/Watson integration would be amazing and would keep Siri competitive.
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  • Reply 163 of 249
    rogifanrogifan Posts: 10,669member
    Even Apple uses Azure servers for iCloud, that's not the issue. The issue is this deal tilts hardware and enterprise software solutions in Apple's favor.
    Where I work the only way we can connect an iPad to our network to access applications, network drives, Exchange, etc. is via Citrix remote app and the experience is horrible. I'll be interested to see what this collaboration brings to large organizations entrenched in Windows/Office.
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  • Reply 164 of 249
    malax wrote: »
    Probably not a coincidence that this was announced in the middle of Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Conference http://www.digitalwpc.com/Pages/Home.aspx

    This will likely be the talk of that conference tomorrow.

    Keynote begins at 8:45 a.m. tomorrow morning. All eyes will be on the elephant in the room. No one will believe a word of the keynote if Satya Nadella doesn't talk about the IBM/Apple deal just fucking up everything.

    Again, without even being present, Apple just sucked all the air out of the room. SOMEBODY's gonna stick a mic in Ballmer's face and try to recreate the initial iPhone interview questions... God I miss that guy!
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  • Reply 165 of 249
    Now I know why Larry Ellison criticises Tim Cook
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  • Reply 166 of 249
    haggarhaggar Posts: 1,568member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by herbapou View Post



    Wonder if this will extend to macs too.

     

    Yeah, simply reformat the Mac hard drive to run Windows only. :D  But that's ok, as long as the computer has an Apple logo on it.

     

    At this point, Apple can discontinue Mac computers and OS X,  and people would happily defend the decision.  Of course Apple would also make xCode available for Windows so people can continue developing for iPhones and iPads.

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  • Reply 167 of 249
    magman1979magman1979 Posts: 1,301member
    This news is HUGE, and it definitely took a LOT of people by surprise! Tim wasn't joking when he said Apple was doubling down on security!

    And BTW, we could hear the collective shitting of Microsoft employees all the way up in Canada, so we know they are freaking out right now! 8-)
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  • Reply 168 of 249
    lorin schultzlorin schultz Posts: 2,771member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SpamSandwich View Post

     

    Even Apple uses Azure servers for iCloud, that's not the issue. The issue is this deal tilts hardware and enterprise software solutions in Apple's favor.


     

    I don't disagree, I just don't understand. I try hard, but I'm just not that bright...

     

    Let's use my company as an example. In my building we have a couple hundred people using Outlook for all the typical calendar and directory stuff, plus an industry-specific Windows app from Avid for scripts and show line-ups. People in the field, whether in sales or production, already use iPhones.

     

    My plant is one of a dozen across the country that all work the same way, and are all part of a subsidiary of a humungous parent corporation with thousands of employees. The parent corp uses some SAP stuff for finance and management, which trickles down to the managers in a plant like mine but not to front-line people. Anything "corporate" that has to be done by worker bees is handled online.

     

    How does the Apple deal influence my company? I suppose if they wanted to spend millions to replace SAP with IBM it might be relevant, but that would be the case with or without the Apple partnership. As for using iOS hardware in the field, we already do.

     

    So I don't get what is tilted and how? What benefits to my company now exist that didn't before this partnership? Why would an IT manager at my company perceive Apple any differently now than he did yesterday?

     

    If my company is somehow not a good example, what is? What kind of company DOES benefit from this, and how? What does Apple get from this deal that they didn't already have?

     

    Again, I stress that I'm NOT talking down the deal or saying there's no benefit, I'm saying I don't understand what tangible, brass-tacks, "where the rubber hits the road" difference this makes to the huge majority of business on this planet.

     

    Maybe once we see a few of those 100 industry-specific apps it will make more sense. For now, I don't get it.

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  • Reply 169 of 249
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    haggar wrote: »
    At this point, Apple can discontinue Mac computers and OS X, and people would happily defend the decision
    Who are these "people" you speak of? You and John C. Dvorak?
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  • Reply 170 of 249
    SpamSandwichspamsandwich Posts: 33,407member
    I don't disagree, I just don't understand. I try hard, but I'm just not that bright...

    Let's use my company as an example. In my building we have a couple hundred people using Outlook for all the typical calendar and directory stuff, plus an industry-specific Windows app from Avid for scripts and show line-ups. People in the field, whether in sales or production, already use iPhones.

    My plant is one of a dozen across the country that all work the same way, and are all part of a subsidiary of a humungous parent corporation with thousands of employees. The parent corp uses some SAP stuff for finance and management, which trickles down to the managers in a plant like mine but not to front-line people. Anything "corporate" that has to be done by worker bees is handled online.

    How does the Apple deal influence my company? I suppose if they wanted to spend millions to replace SAP with IBM it might be relevant, but that would be the case with or without the Apple partnership. As for using iOS hardware in the field, we already do.

    So I don't get what is tilted and how? What benefits to my company now exist that didn't before this partnership? Why would an IT manager at my company perceive Apple any differently now than he did yesterday?

    If my company is somehow not a good example, what is? What kind of company DOES benefit from this, and how? What does Apple get from this deal that they didn't already have?

    Again, I stress that I'm NOT talking down the deal or saying there's no benefit, I'm saying I don't understand what tangible, brass-tacks, "where the rubber hits the road" difference this makes to the huge majority of business on this planet.

    Maybe once we see a few of those 100 industry-specific apps it will make more sense. For now, I don't get it.

    Maybe this PC-centric web site will better explain this partnership: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2453939/ibm-to-sell-business-optimized-ipads-in-unexpected-partnership.html
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  • Reply 171 of 249
    This is huge. IBM is absolutely huge in the corporate world. I've been so bullish on Apple and Tim Cook after hearing about this partnership.

    I really hope Apple decides to take on Adobe Marketing Analytics & Tableau Software next.
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  • Reply 172 of 249
    entropysentropys Posts: 4,437member
    My workplace is a similar setup to yours, Lorin, although much bigger and it uses ms servers in the backend. We also have staff clamouring for iPhones and iPads as the preferred mobile devices. The IT management is pushing Surface, but to date have only got the VP to test. The line is that it would be just like using the desktop, but also has the benefits of a tablet. I got the IT manager to stand holding his surface (sans keyboard) in one hand and my iPad Air in the other, and after 30 secs he got real shitty.

    The point is that Microsoft has been spending time getting its ducks in a row with IT departments to force acceptance of Surface by corporate users. This deal gives the users (and Apple and IBM) a chance to quell this momentum.
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  • Reply 173 of 249
    applesauce007applesauce007 Posts: 1,712member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SolipsismX View Post





    Who are these "people" you speak of? You and John C. Dvorak?

    LOL.  Dvorak is a joker. He just loved to get under the skin of Apple fans that would let him.

    His stuff got boring after a while because it was so obvious what he was doing.

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  • Reply 174 of 249
    asciiascii Posts: 5,936member

    Perhaps this move will encourage Microsoft to make the iPad integrate better with their servers.

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  • Reply 175 of 249
    applesauce007applesauce007 Posts: 1,712member

    This is a deal that could help Apple and IBM greatly increase their market cap.

     

    A new breed of applications for iOS and a new class of computing for IBM.

    IBM realizes that it is a service company so it does not try to become Apple and make it's own hardware. (Microsoft should take notes)

     

    IBM has a lot of vertical software and services so this is huge.

    The enterprise will eventually learn how to write their own vertical software and take this even further.

     

    The beauty of it is that Apple & IBM remained silent until they had the software ready to go before announcing and therefore taking the industry by storm.

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  • Reply 176 of 249
    bigpicsbigpics Posts: 1,397member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Wurm5150 View Post



    Hell has frozen over.. Crows have turned white.. And Steve Jobs is rolling over his grave.



    Naww. As others have pointed out, post-MS stabbing their patron, IBM, and using IBM's rep and manufacturing muscle, to grapple Apple nearly to the ground, Apple and IBM have actually had a number of relationships that Jobs was deeply involved in.....

     

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by John.B View Post

     

    I couldn't be any more disappointed.  Dumping Aperture and joining up with IBM in the same month?  Is this why TBWA had to go? 

     

    This will do nothing except tarnish the brand Apple worked so hard for so many years to build. 

     

    :smh:




    You a sad guy.  More concerned about an unprofitable niche photography program than Apple's suddenly brighter (as in something distinctly not tarnished) strategic future.  :sMh:

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  • Reply 177 of 249
    mdriftmeyermdriftmeyer Posts: 7,503member

    Anyone talking about discontinuing OS X and Macs are just too stupid to debate.

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  • Reply 178 of 249
    staigardstaigard Posts: 26member
    Apple and IBM are both companies that are in it for the long term : no gimmicks or making a fast buck for them : both quality companies.

    On hearing the news of their alliance, I can't help speculating as to when the idea was first mooted. Steve Jobs once famously promised to wage thermonuclear on Google. Could yesterdays announcement be the first sign that this war is finally about to break out? To keep the military metaphor going ... Could the ranks of Apple and Big Blue be getting into battle formation for the final showdown?

    On one side, tried and trusted search algorithms. On the other side, ownership of the mobile human-computer interfaces PLUS a huge body of knowledge learnt from extensive A.I. research program.

    Aaaah ... we live in interesting times.
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  • Reply 179 of 249
    lorin schultzlorin schultz Posts: 2,771member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SpamSandwich View Post



    Maybe this PC-centric web site will better explain this partnership: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2453939/ibm-to-sell-business-optimized-ipads-in-unexpected-partnership.html

     

    Thank you! Yes, that helped some. It included at least some very basic specifics not described elsewhere, like "The apps will target retail, healthcare, banking, travel and transportation, telecommunications, and insurance..."

     

    IBM needs a better mouthpiece than Rometty. Her statement is just two paragraphs of meaningless buzzwords and corpospeak.

     

    I still don't know if this really represents the kind of tectonic shift some people here are expecting though. Cook said iOS devices are already in use at 98% of Fortune 500 companies. That doesn't sound like a product line that needs help penetrating enterprise markets. Obviously it's better to partner with IBM than not, but I don't see this changing the world. That won't happen until we see Macs in Fortune 500 cubicles! :)

     

    Maybe this is a step towards that.

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  • Reply 180 of 249
    gyorpbgyorpb Posts: 93member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Lorin Schultz View Post

     

    Cook said iOS devices are already in use at 98% of Fortune 500 companies. That doesn't sound like a product line that needs help penetrating enterprise markets.


    "In use at" is not the same is "used exclusively by all employees of".

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