Apple Targeting Business and Government

[MacRumors]

CNet reports (http://news.com.com/2100-1041_3-5103151.html) that Apple is experimenting on new efforts to increase sales targeted at business and government customers.

According to Apple's sales chief Tim Cook, Apple has established employee purchase programs at about 100 companies, increased the number of value-added resellers and established a sales force directly targeted at the creative market and government entities.

Previous reports (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/10/20031028180356.shtml) hinted that Apple had been courting Government sales with built in support for Department of Defense Common Access Cards and government specific logins (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/09/20030907013401.shtml) built into Panther.

Early word of this new initiative may have been reported by ThinkSecret (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/08/20030826115310.shtml) in August when they reported on a new "Enterprise division" at Apple, aimed at corporate sales. At that time, they felt that the details of the group would be publicized after the introduction of the long awaited G5 Xserve. Xserve rumors have been slow with some unconfirmed hints (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/11/20031104134024.shtml) that an Xserve G5 may still be months off.

[rdowns]

Seems nothing but good news coming out of Cupertino these days (recent s/w snafus aside). All I can say is, IT'S ABOUT TIME.

[gwuMACaddict]

gotta be more secure than using windoze

;)

WAY more secure

[ITR 81]

A friend at new unit in Alaska said they got to play with new 15 inch PB's with card access. They are demo them to see if Mil. may buy more of them or not because right now Mil. not all that happy with MS OS on the Intel. side.

[FriarTuck]

I can confirm that the government employee personal discount has increased significantly in the past year.

Very nice.

[kenaustus]

While it pains me to pay retail while workers at XYZ Corp can get a good discount I think the program is good news long term.

Execs get Macs for their kids, see what it can do - and not see the worm/virus problems (Dad, don't worry - it's a Mac) will open some eyes and put pressure on the wintel IT guys fighting Macs.

Wintel IT lovers aren't gonna be too happy unless, of course, they are secretly Mac guys.

Good news indeed!

[Chooser]

Was a Mac IT guy, was forced to become Wintel IT guy.

Viruses, hmm let's see that was about everyday.

Windows critical updates, hmm about the same.