Apple, IBM team up to develop apps for businesses

Thirty years after Apple took thinly veiled potshots at IBM in the now-famous 1984 Super Bowl commercial, the two companies are making nice.

Tech giants Apple and IBM announced a partnership Tuesday to work together to provide business-centered apps to iPhone and iPad users.

The companies will develop more than 100 apps for Apple products designed using data analytics and cloud computing services provided by IBM. The apps, which begin rolling out this fall, will target specific industries including retail, healthcare, banking and travel.

The two companies are touting the arrangement as a win for businesses, giving them the computing power of IBM through Apple hardware.

“For the first time ever we’re putting IBM’s renowned big data analytics at iOS users’ fingertips, which opens up a large market opportunity for Apple,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a statement. “This is a radical step for enterprise and something that only Apple and IBM can deliver.”

Apple will provide customer service for the new apps through its AppleCare customer service. The companies didn’t provide specific examples of the apps they plan to develop.

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