Apple and IBM are putting aside a rivalry started at the dawn of the personal-computing era to get more businesses to embrace iPhones and iPads. The two former rivals today announced a broad partnership to help companies deploy wireless devices and business-specific applications to run on them.

More than 100 new apps for iPhone and iPad will be programmed to represent various business process. IBM will also offer customized cloud services specifically designed for Apple devices  and sell its customers iPhones and iPads.The deal could be a major growth factor for Apple: IBM is a major provider of IT services and technology equipment provider. Thus it could also be an important distribution channel for Apple. IBM Services will also offer an around the clock service for Apples devices. IBM for its part, lately having recorded stagnating sales could use a new impetus as well. Apple’s devices could act as a carthorse for the sale of IBM services. Seems like a win-win situation for both Companies.

The partnership is all the more spectacular because Apple once stood at loggerheads with IBM. When Apple developed its first personal computer in the mid-70s, IBM was the industry veteran and powerful rival – it was not foreseeable that in the end Microsoft Windows, would dominate the PC industry. 30 years ago, Apple’s legendary “1984” commercial spot was directed against an IBM dictatorship, the young founder Steve Jobs had his picture taken with a stinky finger under an IBM logo.

Nowadays there are no more overlaps between the business of the two Companies according to Apple’s Cook and IBM CEO Rometty. IBM sold its PC business about a decade ago to the Chinese company Lenovo. Although Apple sells its devices to companies, it  does not provide enterprise software. Cook told the technology blog “Recode”, Apple and IBM fit together like puzzle pieces.

Coming to an agreement with your archrival that will benefit both sides is a pretty bold idea in my opinion. Well done Apple and IBM. Now the partnership just has to pay off in the long term. We’ll be there to assess if it did. Check out the video below to find out what Cook and Rometty had to say about the partnership:

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