Apple and IBM for IBM MobileFirst for iOS – How Apple with IBM Cloud Computing indicates Apple-Microsoft-IBM-Google Deal Possible in the Future

“Mobility—combined with the phenomena of data and cloud—is transforming business and our industry in historic ways, allowing people to re-imagine work, industries and professions”

IBM’s Chairman, President and CEO, Ginni Rometty, commenting on the IBM MobileFirst for iOS Apps for Corporate and Enterprise users

All is forgiven it seems. Apple and IBM (International Business Machines) have decided to kiss and make up, just as they’d done with Microsoft. Again, that is to say, if history is any judge, this would be second time that Hell has frozen over.

Hopefully IBM, who used to supply Apple’s PowerPC Processor used in their Macintosh Computers, will via this partnership stare askance at this Superbowl Ad that poked fun at the totalitarian dominance of IBM and Microsoft back in the 90’s!

Dubbed IBM MobileFirst for iOS, it’ll see IBM rolling out some 100 Corporate and Enterprise Apps onto the Apple iPad and Apple iPhone as reported in “IBM to sell business-optimized iPads in unexpected partnership”, published July 15, 2014, Business Hardware, PCWorld and “Apple, IBM cozy up on iOS business apps”, published July 15, 2014 3:24 PM PDT by Larry Dignan, CNET News.

IBM’s Chairman, President and CEO, Ginni Rometty is apparently quite stoked about this partnership, quote: “This alliance with Apple will build on our momentum in bringing these innovations to our clients globally, and leverages IBM’s leadership in analytics, cloud, software and services. We are delighted to be teaming with Apple, whose innovations have transformed our lives in ways we take for granted, but can’t imagine living without. Our alliance will bring the same kind of transformation to the way people work, industries operate and companies perform.”

From July 1, 2014

Cut short, that translates to loads of Contracts from Corporate and Enterprise for tailor-made Business Applications. In short, the same business Blackberry used to be in and to which Blackberry is currently has a Passport to get back into, pun cleverly intended as explained in my blog article entitled “Blackberry Passport coming in September 2014 - Squaring up again the competition in Portrait and Lanscape Mode”.

Apple and IBM - IBM MobileFirst for iOS Apps is Apple with IBM Cloud Computing Muscle

Apple and IBM will jointly design the IBM MobileFirst for iOS apps to work with IBM's Cloud Computing Platform to offer industry-specific solutions that are targeted at the following industries:

1.      Retail

2.      Healthcare

3.      Banking

4.      Travel and Transportation

5.      Telecommunications

6.      Insurance

Using their expertise in mobile integration, Apple will mediate the device management end coming from IBM. Security will be provided that'll make these Apps secure enough to be used on iOS Platform. Usage of these IBM MobileFirst for iOS Apps by Corporate and Enterprise users will generate Data that'll be processed by IBM Cloud Computing Analytics to produce results that can be used by these clients.

All done securely over the Internet, possibly via a secure VPN (Virtual Private Network), with IBM Cloud Computing Servers proving the Computing Muscle and Apple iPhone and Apple iPad being the physical Platform to mediate this interaction.

This is sorta like Microsoft making a version of Microsoft Office 365 that works on the Apple iPad and Apple iPhone as stated in my Geezam blog article entitled “Microsoft to introduce Office to Apple iPad on Thursday March 27th 2014”. Like the deal with IBM, the Microsoft Office 365 is basically a Business Staple that, begrudgingly, Apple is belatedly agreeing is good enough to match up to its Apple iWorks.

Many who tote around Apple iPads and Apple iPhones wouldn't mind being able to do work on their beloved device.  Apple lovers are getting the best of both worlds, to the benefit of Microsoft and now IBM. It's also a little common-sense; if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, as the Americans would say.

Despite naysayers such as analyst Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster pronouncing death and gloom on this partnership as per his analysis in the article “IBM deal won't have huge impact on Apple's financials -- analyst”, published July 16, 2014 5:57 AM PDT by Lance Whitney, CNET News, this is exactly what Apple needs to really monetize the Apple iPad and Apple iPhone Platforms: partnerships with Enterprise and Cloud Computing Providers to provide customized Corporate and Enterprise solutions, an area of business that more profitable than consumer sales.

Best of all this isn't breaking any sacred Apple covenants; Apple's always had deals with the competition! Most noteworthy and current example is their supply of 64-bit Processors, which allegedly come from Samsung, their sworn “Frenemy”, that were used in the Apple iPad 5 and Apple iPad Mini 2 as stated in my blog article entitled “Apple iPad Air, the World’s Lightest Tablet launched in Silver, Space Grey, White - Christmas smartphone and Tablet Battle Royale as Winter is Coming”.

Microsoft and IBM Deal –Three-Way Apple-Microsoft-Google Deal is Possible in the Future

Not the most exciting announcement, but a very interesting one. So, based on this, will we see partnership between Apple and Google?

Possibly Apple iTunes Radio, now powered by Beat Audio as described in my blog article entitled “Apple officially confirms Beats Audio Purchase - US$3.2 Billion as Apple gears up for Subscription Streaming and improved Headphones”, on Google Android devices? Or Google Android and Microsoft Windows 8 and Apple OS X in three-way Live Dual-OS Hot-swappable configuration on a Tablet or Laptop?

A similar plan in the form of the US$599 Asus Transformer Duet TD300 got the cold shoulder by Microsoft and Google, prompting me to wish that it be kickstarted in some way as stated in my blog article entitled “Microsoft and Google kill US$599 Asus Transformer Duet TD300 - One Love Kickstarter Project for Developers and Hardware Modders to Breathe life into The Art of the Steal”.

It might not be obvious, but these deals with Microsoft and now IBM open up the possibility that Apple will eventually market their suite of Creative and Productivity Apps such as Apple iWorks, and Garageband on Google Android. Google already does deals with IBM and Microsoft in terms of licensing of Java Application Drivers, Server Hardware and Software Design Tools for Android.

An Apple-Microsoft-IBM-Google Tie up make IBM MobileFirst for iOS Corporate and Enterprise Apps that are secure across Apple iOS, Windows Phone OS and Google Android look to be on the cards real soon.

When Hell freezes over of course……