News
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”.
For a business to remain strong and relevant, experts have urged entrepreneurs to engage in solving problems in the Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) space and build strong partnerships.
The experts stated at the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Business Series with the theme, “Stronger Together: Building Powerful Business Partnerships for Progress.”
Four seasoned business owners including: Beauty Entrepreneur, Dabota Lawson; Real Estate Mogul and Entrepreneur, Wale Ayilara; Journalist and TV producer Peace Hyde and Fashion Entrepreneur, Mai Atafo, encouraged participants to solve problems, invent in products & service and, create value to remain stronger in business and thrive amid competitive business environment.
Ayilara expressed that an entrepreneur must be able to solve problems and build a strong partnership in order to remain relevant in a challenging business environment.
He stressed further that there are a lot of business opportunities in Nigeria and questioned where consumers money is directed into.
Lawson said the inability to find a suitable sensitive skincare that matches her skin tone forced her to start her company.
On her part, Hyde stated that she ventures into media on the backdrop of telling Africa’s stories to international audiences.
Atafo said passion made him venture into fashion, maintaining that being an entrepreneur in Nigeria is tough work.
Speaking earlier, UBA’s Group Head, Retail and Digital Banking, Shamsideen Fashola, highlighted the critical role of partnerships in today’s dynamic business environment.
“In an increasingly interconnected world, the power of collaboration cannot be overstated. At UBA, we recognise that collaboration is the cornerstone of sustainable business success.
“The ‘Stronger Together’ Business Series is designed to inspire entrepreneurs and corporate leaders to forge meaningful alliances that drive progress, unlock opportunities, and contribute to Africa’s economic transformation,” Shamsideen said.
Nigeria’s leading commercial bank, First Bank of Nigeria, has joined forces with Mighty Media Plus Network Limited for the maiden edition of the QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit.
Also supporting the event are Nigeria LNG (NLNG) and Shell Nigeria, two major players in the country’s energy and development sectors.
Chief Executive Officer of Mighty Media Plus Network Limited, Olumide Iyanda, announced the partnerships in a statement on Monday.
Mr Iyanda described FirstBank’s involvement as a strong statement of the bank’s belief in the power of Nigeria’s creative sector.
“FirstBank’s support is a reaffirmation of its long-standing commitment to promoting the creative economy,” he said. “Through First@arts, the bank has become a reliable partner to talents, institutions, and organisations working to grow Nigeria’s cultural assets.”
First@arts is FirstBank’s platform for supporting the arts. It provides financing, advisory services, and exposure for creatives across the value chain. The bank has backed major cultural events and partnered with institutions such as British Council, Duke of Shomolu Productions, Live Theatre Lagos, Freedom Park and Terra Kulture.
Among the projects FirstBank has supported are The Headies Awards, Lagos International Theatre Festival, The Oxymoron of Kenny Blaq, Kurunmi, Eni Ogun, and Oke Langbodo.
Iyanda also praised NLNG for its role in promoting excellence in literature and science through The Nigeria Prize for Literature, The Nigeria Prize for Science, and The Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism.
“NLNG has shown leadership by rewarding creativity and innovation in ways that impact both the literary and scientific communities,” he said.
The prizes, worth up to USD100,000, are among the most prestigious on the continent. They celebrate Nigerian authors, critics, and scientists whose work makes a real difference.
Shell’s support for the summit reflects its ongoing commitment to education and social development. The company focuses on sustainable, community-driven educational projects, ranging from scholarships to infrastructure development and ICT donations.
“Shell’s belief in education as a foundation for long-term progress aligns with our vision for the summit,” Iyanda added.
He further noted that more sponsors will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
The QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit, themed “Financing as Catalyst for a Thriving Creative Economy,” will take place on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. The venue is the prestigious Radisson Blu Hotel, Isaac John Street, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
The summit will bring together creatives, investors, policymakers, and business leaders to explore solutions to the funding challenges facing Nigeria’s creative industries.
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has strongly denied allegations of lack of integrity and transparency directed at its chairman, Ola Olukoyede, by columnist Steve Osuji.
In a statement issued by Dele Oyewale, spokesperson, EFCC. the commission described the claims as “worrisome and unjustifiable,” particularly criticizing the personal attacks on Olukoyede.
“More worrisome was his attack on Olukoyede for no justifiable reason. Allegations of lack of transparency, accountability and integrity deficit are wild and clearly off the mark,” Oyewale said.
He questioned the basis for the allegations and defended Olukoyede’s leadership since taking office.
“The question is: in what way has Olukoyede fallen short? Is it by insisting that the right things should always be done? By moving the nation’s anti-graft war forward radically and unprecedentedly?
“By bringing forth a preventive framework to tackle corruption and reaping bountiful gains for the nation?
“By recovering the globally-acclaimed 753 duplexes and other apartments, which are proceeds of fraudulent dealings for the nation?
“By launching the EFCC into a global map of accomplished anti-graft agencies? By handling 50,000 case files in one year?
“By embarking on a courageous internal cleansing system and other progressive initiatives to deepen and strengthen the anti-corruption fight?
“It is cowardly and uncharitable for any columnist to hide under vague and opaque cover to splash mud on Ola Olukoyede, arguably one of the finest breed of anti-graft czars around the world.”
Olukoyede, through the statement, reaffirmed that the EFCC has consistently submitted its annual reports to the National Assembly as required by law.
“Equally preposterous are claims of re-looting of assets by officers of the Commission. For the purpose of clarification, the Commission does not recover monetary assets into its covers and the non-monetary assets that are recovered are disposed of following clear pronouncements by court and proceeds paid into the Confiscated and Forfeited Properties Account account in the Central Bank in line with provisions of the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022.
“The EFCC does not operate in secrecy. All its operations are regularly communicated to the public, including public auction of assets. To deliberately cast the Commission in the mould of fraudulent engagements or criminality is not only mischievous but also untenable,” the statement concluded.
PAT Taps Osi as CEO
Africa Launches PAPSSCARD, First Pan-African Card Scheme
Burna Boy Distances Himself from Meme Coin, Labels Crypto as Fraud
NCC Introduces N10m Licence Fee for Bulk SMS Service
MTN Nigeria Targets $1Bn Cloud Market with Largest Modular Data Centre
Broadcasting1 day agoNigeria Week Ahead: Inflation, Oil and Naira in focus
News1 day agoEFCC: Accusations Against Our Chairman Are Baseless and Misleading
General News7 hours agoWoodhall Capital and Partners Launch ₦1.5Bn Fund
News7 hours agoFirstBank, NLNG, Shell back QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit
General News7 hours agoAM Best Reaffirms Stable Outlook for Cyber Insurance Market
Broadcasting9 hours agoA Billion-Dollar Obsession in 90-Second Bites
Telecom7 hours agoMTN Nigeria Targets $1Bn Cloud Market with Largest Modular Data Centre
E-Business7 hours agoFirm Highlights Top Risks of Quantum Computing