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Apple and IBM Focusing on Feedback-Driven Apps and Support in New Enterprise Partnership
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As I predicted...
This is heading exactly where I predicted it would. But some of the statements made in the story are not exactly complete nor accurate.
1) Apple already has an Enterprise Group. Yes, and no. About eight years ago, Steve Jobs decided and announced that Apple was going to be a consumer electronics company. The existing Enterprise group, and the enterprise support teams within Education division were basically given notice that they were no longer a focus of the company. Headcount was reduced, support for their programs were diminished, and customers who had invested in Apple at the enterprise level were left to fend for themselves.
So the group may be building back up, but my prediction is that as long as Apple is selling tons of product into Enterprise, they will be more than happy to let IBM sell and provide the support services therein.
Apple is not currently positioned to provide internationally scalable, enterprise class support. My guess is they will not make the investment to get there, thus the partnership with IBM.
2) Apple doesn't have sales teams calling on customers everyday - incorrect. They have an incredible sales team that works their collective tails off. But, it has been scaled back specifically in Enterprise. Will they build it back up? Maybe, but they will experiment first at IBM's expense. Steps:
- Partner with IBM.
- Let them test the waters for viability.
- If they fail, they look bad at no cost to Apple.
- If they succeed, they have designed a model that Apple could choose to implement if it so chooses.
This is heading exactly where I predicted it would. But some of the statements made in the story are not exactly complete nor accurate.
1) Apple already has an Enterprise Group. Yes, and no. About eight years ago, Steve Jobs decided and announced that Apple was going to be a consumer electronics company. The existing Enterprise group, and the enterprise support teams within Education division were basically given notice that they were no longer a focus of the company. Headcount was reduced, support for their programs were diminished, and customers who had invested in Apple at the enterprise level were left to fend for themselves.
So the group may be building back up, but my prediction is that as long as Apple is selling tons of product into Enterprise, they will be more than happy to let IBM sell and provide the support services therein.
Apple is not currently positioned to provide internationally scalable, enterprise class support. My guess is they will not make the investment to get there, thus the partnership with IBM.
2) Apple doesn't have sales teams calling on customers everyday - incorrect. They have an incredible sales team that works their collective tails off. But, it has been scaled back specifically in Enterprise. Will they build it back up? Maybe, but they will experiment first at IBM's expense. Steps:
- Partner with IBM.
- Let them test the waters for viability.
- If they fail, they look bad at no cost to Apple.
- If they succeed, they have designed a model that Apple could choose to implement if it so chooses.