In an effort to expand its presence in the enterprise market, Apple is working closely with mobile device management (MDM) company MobileIron. This collaboration is part of a larger push by Apple to deploy applications into enterprises.
The Partnership with IBM
Apple’s partnership with IBM has been instrumental in the development of enterprise-friendly iOS apps. To date, IBM has released 25 IBM MobileFirst for iOS apps focused on supporting customers in various sectors. The partnership has also led to the integration of HealthKit and ResearchKit data into Watson-based apps for customers in the medical field.
The IBM Deal: A Success Story
In its recent earnings call, Apple highlighted the success of the partnership with IBM. The company stated that it is working closely with more than two dozen leading business software and solution providers to bring innovative mobile solutions to more customers on iPad. This expansion of the partnership has led to the development of nearly 100 enterprise-friendly iOS apps by the end of the year.
Apple’s Push into Enterprise
Apple’s focus on the enterprise market is evident in its developments for iPad, including split-screen work in iOS 9 and potentially larger tablets. According to Apple, the iPad has consistently been the number one tablet in the enterprise.
iPad Sales: A Challenge
Despite being the leading tablet in the enterprise, iPad sales have been lackluster in recent quarters. To address this challenge, Apple is seeking to expand its sales in other areas, including the enterprise market.
MobileIron’s Role in Apple’s Enterprise Push
Apple’s work with MobileIron, along with Box, DocuSign, and Xero, is part of its effort to deploy applications into enterprises. In an interview, Bob Tinker, CEO of MobileIron, stated that his company is building a product called OneTouch to help large companies deploy apps onto their mobile devices.
Deployment and Management Tools
Tinker explained that even if Apple builds compelling applications, without deployment and management tools, those apps might face limited deployment. This highlights the importance of collaboration between Apple and its partners in the enterprise market.
Packages of Applications: A New Development
According to sources, Apple’s enterprise app push will involve "packages" of applications bundled together. However, details of this undertaking are scarce, and Apple has not responded to several emails on the matter.
MobileIron’s Public Offering
In a separate development, MobileIron went public last year at $9 per share. The company’s shares initially rallied but took a sharp hit after it missed investor expectations following its most recent earnings report.
Competitors in the MDM Space
MobileIron competes with Good Technology and others in the mobile device management space. As Apple continues to push into the enterprise market, MobileIron is well-positioned to play a key role in this effort.
Related Articles
- Synthesia Snaps Up $180M at a $2.1B Valuation for its B2B AI Video Platform – Read More
- Intel Spins Off Its Corporate Venture Arm, Intel Capital, into a Standalone Fund – Read More
Stay Up-to-Date with the Latest News
- Subscribe to TechCrunch Daily News for the industry’s biggest tech news every weekday and Sunday.
- TechCrunch AI covers the latest news in the fast-moving field of artificial intelligence. Subscribe now!
- Startups Weekly delivers the best coverage of startups, so subscribe weekly!
