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Analyst Says Apple, IBM Partnership Good for Enterprise Mobility
John Delaney, associate vice president, Mobility at IDC while analyzing the strategic partnership between Apple and IBM will provide a formidable platform for enterprise mobility to thrive.
The strategic partnership announced on Tuesday indicates that IBM will sell iPhones and iPads to its business customers, and will develop cloud services optimized for Apple’s iOS.
Apple on the other hand will provide hardware support for devices through a dedicated large-enterprise AppleCare programme.
Delaney commenting on the strategy said that Apple’s need to develop the enterprise market for iPhones is imperative – and the same applies to iPads, albeit to a lesser extent.
“The consumer market for these devices mainly comprises affluent people in developed economies, and that is now a mature and highly competitive smartphone market.
“In search of additional markets, Apple cannot look to developing economies, or to the mass-market in developed economies, without making mid-price and low-price iPhones. This is a move that Apple has resisted so far, and that would run counter to its very successful product strategy. Therefore, for future iPhone sales growth, Apple will rely increasingly on enterprise customers.
He added that strong inroads to the enterprise have already been made by Apple, initially in combination with solutions for mobile device management (MDM) to make the devices sufficiently secure and manageable for enterprise adoption.
“More recently, iPhones have become more inherently enterprise-friendly, through the security and management capabilities that were built into the platform with the release of iOS7. Doubtless there will be more of that to come, with upcoming new releases of the product and platform”.
Commenting further, he said, “But the market for mobile enterprise management (MEM) is evolving, as IT departments move into a more mature phase in their approach to mobility. Rather than the heavily device-centric approaches that have predominated so far, enterprises’ mobility developments are becoming increasingly application-centric.
“The fundamental reason for this is that as their attitudes mature, enterprises increasingly seek to use mobility to build competitive advantage. Devices themselves are not a source of sustainable competitive advantage, because the same devices that are available to an enterprise are also available to its competitors. Instead, competitive advantage stems from the things that an enterprise does with its devices; that is, from applications.
In this more mature phase, enterprises need to integrate mobile devices and applications with existing enterprise applications, software infrastructure and back-end systems.
“This leads to an increasing importance, as indicated by IDC’s enterprise research, of IT service companies as preferred sources of supply for MEM solutions.
“Therefore, to continue its strong progress in selling iPhones and iPads to enterprises, Apple will rely on channel partners who can offer enterprises the “heavy lifting” that will increasingly be required in areas such as mobile application development, lifecycle management and systems integration.
“In IBM, Apple has forged a relationship with one of the strongest such partners around. As well as its cast-iron credentials as an enterprise IT brand, IBM brings to the partnership an increasingly mature set of capabilities in the area of enterprise mobility.
“IBM’s capability in mobile application development is founded on Worklight, which it acquired in early 2012; and its more recent acquisition of Fibrelink adds MEM to the mobility toolset that IBM has at its disposal. The combination of IBM’s mobility competencies, and the large investments in marketing that IBM is making in its “Mobile First” practice, will provide Apple with a solid platform upon which to build and extend its enterprise business.
“What does IBM get out of the deal? Most of all: huge end-user pull. This is an increasingly important asset when pitching to the enterprise, partly because bring-your-own-device (BYOD) has, in effect, devolved some of the selection and procurement of devices to end users.
“But even in enterprises that have not embraced BYOD, IDC’s research indicates that IT departments place increasing weight on end-user preferences in their mobile selection and procurement processes. There are two main reasons for this.
“Firstly, if end users do not like the mobile tools their employer gives them, they have a lot of ways at their disposal to work around them. Secondly, rollout and adoption of mobile systems is more likely to be successful if the systems use devices and applications that end users like, and with which they are familiar.
“The Apple/IBM deal may itself have an impact on BYOD trends. Already, in Europe, IDC’s enterprise research indicates that interest in BYOD may have reached a plateau. In our most recent Enterprise Mobility Survey, the percentage of enterprises saying that they have not adopted BYOD, and do not intend to, is almost the same as in the survey that we conducted a year previously (at just over 40%).
“This deal between Apple and IBM may further attenuate future demand for BYOD, both in Europe and elsewhere. One of the main drivers of interest in BYOD is that end users want to use iPhones and iPads for their work. If your employer gives you an iPhone and/or an iPad, as a result of a joint sale from Apple and IBM, why would you want to bring your own?
“It is likely that Apple will seek partnerships with additional IT services players, perhaps looking next at some of the systems integrators that are developing mobility practices. But with this IBM partnership, Apple has made a very strong start in evolving its go-to-market strategy in alignment with the current, more mature phase of mobility adoption in the enterprise”.
Tony Elumelu, chairman, United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Heirs Holdings, has called on Africa to avow itself in the fast-evolving global technology landscape, calling for deeper partnerships, infrastructure investments, and recognition of the continent’s digital potential.
Tony Elumelu, chairman, United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Heirs Holdings,
Elumelu, who made this statement in a series of posts on his verified X handle over the weekend, questioned the continent’s current role in global tech innovation and value creation, noting that while technology is transforming the world, Africa risks being sidelined without urgent strategic action.
“We know technology is transforming our world, and the pace of transformation is accelerating. Where is Africa? Are we in the conversation, or are we being left behind?” Elumelu asked.
Citing Africa’s youthful, entrepreneurial, and digitally native population, Elumelu stressed the need for stronger global partnerships that empower African startups and tech developers to not only serve local markets but compete globally.
“Young Africans are digitally native, entrepreneurial, and hungry to build. What we need are more opportunities for partnership, more belief in our potential, and platforms to amplify our voices.
“Africa has led in digital banking and payments. Our value chains are ripe for transformation. Yet we need more investment, more platforms, and more belief in our potential.
“We know that many of the minerals that are techs’ foundation are found in Africa. But is Africa getting the benefit? Africa needs to capture the moment – ensure we have digital sovereignty – that African priorities are understood and met”
The UBA Chairman revealed that he attended an exclusive dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron and global technology executives at the Élysée Palace in Paris, where he sought to amplify Africa’s voice at the highest level of innovation discourse.
“I had enriching conversations with global tech CEOs, including the CEO of NVIDIA, Jensen Huang, on how innovation can and must solve humanity’s most urgent challenges—including those facing Africa,” he said.
Elumelu used the opportunity to advocate for the continent as the next frontier of global tech investment, calling attention to Africa’s unique demographics and the imperative for inclusive innovation.
Speaking further he said through his investment company, Heirs Holdings, remains committed to Africa’s digital transformation, actively backing tech ventures such as Heirs Technologies and Redtech Limited, which are building solutions tailored for the African market while competing on a global scale.
National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has called on African businesses to seize the opportunities emerging within the rapidly growing global space economy, which is projected to reach one trillion dollars annually by 2030.
The appeal was made by Dr Matthew Adepoju, director-general, NASRDA, during a press briefing at the weekend in advance of the second Africa Space Economy Conference and Exhibition (ASEC 2025), scheduled to take place in Abuja from 17 to 19 June.
The event, organised in collaboration with the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), will focus on the theme “Space Economy and Emerging Markets in Africa”.
Dr Adepoju highlighted that the global space economy is on the verge of surpassing $500 billion per year, making it the fastest-growing economic sector worldwide.
He stressed that Africa must position itself at the forefront of innovation, science, and technology by investing in space-related ventures.
“This is the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Africa must not be left behind.
“It is time for us to take our rightful place at the forefront of global innovation, science and technology, with space technology being the pinnacle of human endeavour.
“The space economy is the fastest growing economic sector in the world and it is projected to hit one trillion dollars per annum. Currently it’s more than 500 billion dollars annually,” he said.
The conference aims to foster collaboration between industry leaders, academic institutions, and research organisations, all working to strengthen Nigeria’s space ecosystem.
Dr Adepoju praised President Bola Tinubu for his forward-thinking economic initiatives, noting the President’s directive to transform NASRDA into a revenue-generating body.
NASRDA, he said, is now committed to fully commercialising and industrialising space research. The upcoming conference is expected to attract international participants, with confirmed interest from countries such as China, the United States, and several European and African nations.
The agency is also preparing for the launch of four new satellites—three optical and one Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR).
These satellites are intended to support national security, environmental monitoring, and economic surveillance, particularly in sectors such as the blue economy and oil and gas.
Dr Adepoju encouraged private sector involvement in areas including satellite technology, data services, rocketry, and space-based applications.
He stressed that with Nigeria being Africa’s most populous country, there is already a significant market for space-related products and services, and now is the time for African businesses to build capacity, invest locally, and retain economic value.
Speaking on behalf of Chief Emeka Obegolu, ACCI President, Mr Agabaidu Jideani, chamber’s director-general, noted that Africa has yet to fully tap into the space economy’s potential.
He pointed out challenges such as limited public awareness, infrastructure gaps, and evolving policy environments, but said these issues also present opportunities for innovation and investment.
“It was with this foresight that ACCI, through our Policy Advocacy Centre, in a strategic partnership with NASRDA, conceptualised the ASEC,” he said.
Dr Haruna Mohammed, co-chairman of the Conference Organising Committee, reiterated that the event is aimed at the private sector and will showcase how space-based technologies can aid in economic diversification, enhance infrastructure, and promote sustainable development across the continent.
Schneider Electric’s newly launched innovation hub is set to benefit not just large corporations, but also local communities, start-ups and learners from technical, vocational education and training (TVET) colleges.
This is according to Canninah Dladla, Schneider’s first female cluster president for English-speaking Africa, speaking at the launch of the hub over the weekend at the company’s headquarters in Midrand.
The hub builds on Schneider Electric’s global strategy to bring its technology closer to its customers on the African continent, while reinforcing its leadership in sustainability, innovation and digitisation, according to the company.
This African hub is part of Schneider Electric’s global network of over 40 registered innovation hubs, and provides an interactive environment where visitors can explore the company’s integrated solutions across key segments, including energy solutions, industrial automation, building solutions as well as power and grid solutions.
“We are building an ecosystem that thrives on collaboration, innovation and relevance to the African context; one that values local talent, fosters local partnerships and drives local solutions. The innovation hub enables us to create a truly dynamic experience that embodies Schneider Electric’s purpose: enabling all to maximise energy and resources while bridging progress and sustainability,” said Dladla.
“Indeed, Africa holds immense potential, and this hub is designed to help our customers and partners unlock it through digitalisation, innovation and collaboration.”
During the event, Dladla highlighted the company’s commitment to Africa’s energy future, emphasising the need for innovative solutions to address energy challenges on the continent.
“There is more to this building launch; it is unveiling our commitment to Africa’s energy for the future. Everybody, including local media, talks about Africa’s energy issues and problems. But maybe it’s about time we stopped talking about issues and problems and come with solutions.”
Walid Sheta, president of the Middle East and Africa at Schneider Electric, said the hub is made for all Schneider’s partners, colleagues and customers, adding that everyone is invited to visit and learn how the technology drives sustainability and efficiency.
“We believe our software solutions and digital offerings will shape the future for our customers. With technology like AI and sensors, we can detect issues like leaks in pipelines or equipment failures before they happen.
“This helps prevent losses, reduce emissions and keep production running smoothly. It’s already being used in various industries, like refineries, power plants and even buildings, to optimise performance and predict potential problems,” he said.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Anna Mokgokong, Schneider Electric South Africa chairperson, stressed the need for businesses to adapt and innovate in today’s fast-changing landscape. She highlighted the significance of the agriculture sector, acknowledging its challenges, and pointed out that Schneider’s automation solutions could address the sector’s challenges
Mokgokong, who also serves as a chancellor at the North-West University, said there is a need to integrate innovation in academic institutions.
“We should focus on equipping students with in-demand skills, allowing them to gain practical experience and build connections with companies like Schneider through vacation work. This way, by the time they graduate, they’ll have a competitive edge and be more likely to secure employment. It’s time for our universities and colleges to shift mindsets and prioritise quality education that meets industry needs.”
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