Enterprise

10.5-inch iPad Pro rumored to target education and enterprise markets

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 24, 2016

Apple may position its rumored new 10.5-inch iPad Pro model as the go-to tablet in the education and enterprise markets, if a report Tuesday in DigiTimes is anything to go by. The Taiwanese trade publication learned from Asian supply chain makers that the Cupertino firm's decided to add a new screen size to the lineup because existing 9.7-inch models proved too small and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro too expensive for business users and students.

Cisco’s software that optimizes iOS devices and apps for enterprise due next month

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 9, 2016

The New York Times article headlined “Once Taunted by Steve Jobs, Companies Are Now Big Customers of Apple” contains an interesting side-note which claims that network giant Cisco is currently testing an upcoming software “that gives priority to mobile devices or apps” ahead of its unveiling next month.

The forthcoming software solution is clearly born out of a partnership that Apple and Cisco struck last year to optimize iOS devices and apps for enterprise users.

Nearly half of all iPads are now being bought by corporations and governments

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 9, 2016

iPad sales fell another nine percent in the June quarter down to 9.95 million units, but that drop would have been deeper had it not been for big corporations and governments, which are now buying nearly half of all iPads, according to a Forrester research quoted in a New York Times article titled “Once Taunted by Steve Jobs, Companies Are Now Big Customers of Apple”.

“In the primordial days of computing, IBM machines were so common inside corporations that there was a running joke in the industry: Nobody ever got fired for buying IBM,” reads the report. “These days, the same could be said about Apple. Even IBM is promoting Apple gear.”

Microsoft releases a free iOS client for SharePoint enterprise collaboration suite

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 21, 2016

Microsoft on Tuesday announced the official release of a brand new application on the App Store, SharePoint. Available at no charge for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, the software is basically Microsoft's long-expected iOS client for its SharePoint enterprise collaboration suite.

Billed as the Intranet in your pocket, the app lets enterprise users stay connected to their company's intranet while on the go, navigate their company's web sites and portals, access important content, information and people and more.

Apple announces new enterprise partnership with SAP

Cody Lee ∙ May 5, 2016

Apple and SAP announced a new partnership on Thursday, which they hope will "revolutionize the mobile work experience for enterprise customers of all sizes." The joint effort will combine powerful native iOS apps with the cutting edge capabilities of SAP's HANA platform.

The two companies also plan to deliver a new SAP HANA Cloud Platform SDK exclusively for iOS that will provide businesses and developers the tools to build their own enterprise apps. And, as part of the deal, SAP will develop native iOS apps for critical business operations.

iOS 9.3 lets your boss lock apps to the Home screen and impose other restrictions

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 1, 2016

Apple's upcoming iOS 9.3 software update will allow employers to lock apps to the Home screen of company-issued devices, preventing them from being moved around, as first discovered by Irish developer Steven Troughton-Smith.

Buried within Apple's documentation for developers, the Home Screen Layout Payload, which defines a layout of apps, folders and web clips for the Home screen, is supported on iOS 9.3 and later.

Apple and Cisco form partnership to ‘deliver fast lane’ for iOS enterprise users

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 31, 2015

In a press release issued Monday, Apple announced a partnership with network giant Cisco designed to deliver “fast lane” for iOS enterprise users. The initiative strives to optimize Cisco networks for iOS devices and apps and integrate the iPhone with Cisco enterprise environments.

The goal is to “provide unique collaboration” opportunities to enterprise customers on the iPhone and iPad.

Apple and IBM roll out eight new apps, bringing MobileFirst for iOS portfolio to 22 apps

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

Apple and IBM have once again expanded upon their portfolio of MobileFirst for iOS native apps specifically targeted at businesses and enterprise, as born out of their exclusive enterprise mobility partnership established in the summer of 2014.

A total of eight new apps have been unveiled, as revealed on Apple's MobileFirst webpage, covering the healthcare and industrial products segments with new software like Ancillary Sale, Hospital Lead and Hospital Tech.

IBM unveils three new ‘MobileFirst for iOS’ apps

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 2, 2015

Enterprise software giant IBM on Monday announced three new apps in its MobileFirst for iOS lineup, aimed at travel and transportation, retail and banking and financial services industries.

The three new apps join the original software lineup targeted to customers in banking, retail, insurance, financial services, telecommunications, energy and utilities, governments and airlines.

iOS activation in enterprise jumps to 73 percent, increasing Apple’s lead over Android

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 4, 2016

Thanks in no small part to strong sales of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus smartphones, Apple has been able to extend its enterprise lead over Android during the fourth quarter of last year.

According to the new Mobility Index Report data (PDF download) by research firm Good Technology, iOS activations in the enterprise market jumped from 69 percent in the third quarter of last year to 73 percent during the last three months of 2014, while Android activations fell from 29 percent to 25 percent.

Google says Android is ready for work, launches Android for Work initiative

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 25, 2015

Google on Wednesday announced a new initiative aimed at making greater inroads in enterprise, where Apple's devices are by and large the preferred choice.

Dubbed ‘Android for Work,’ the program revolves around four key technology components: work profiles, the Android for Work app, Google Play for Work and a set of built-in productivity tools. As is its wont, Google has partnered with a number of technology and solutions provider on the initiative.

Third-parties will help ensure consistent enterprise mobility management, Google said, adding it's given devs ability to create a single version of any Google Play app which can then be securely deployed to any Android device without alterations or wrapping.

Apple hires former HP exec to boost corporate sales

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Apple has hired former HP senior vice president John Solomon, according to a new report from Recode. A spokesperson for the handset-maker has confirmed the hire, but would not specify what Solomon's title or role would be with the company.

Recode's Arik Hesseldahl is hearing, though, that Solomon will be "central to Apple’s push to boost sales to big companies and government agencies with large technology budgets." He may also play a part in international sales of the Apple Watch.