Apple and IBM share a past, and recently announced plans to share a future, as both look to continue growth in their respective market niche. The news brought back memories from 30 years ago, when a partnership between the two companies was unimaginable. The goal of the partnership, according to an Apple press release, is to “redefine the way work will get done, address key industry mobility challenges and spark true mobile-led business change.” The move acknowledges the unique strengths  of each company – IBM will contribute its big data and analytics expertise and Apple will offer the “elegant user experience of iPhone and iPad.” The enterprise market is not untouched territory for Apple, as plenty of Fortune 500 businesses have already deployed iOS devices. The current corporate customer list includes NASA, Nestle, Deutsche Bank, American Airlines, Cisco Systems, Johnson Controls, Luxottica, and GE. The BYOD trend (bring your own device) in the workplace has been beneficial to Apple as companies have gradually allowed employees to use their personal devices for work email and to access needed data. IDC research firm shows that iPhones accounted for 82 percent of smartphones in use at U.S. corporations and 36 percent globally, while iPads accounted for 73 percent of tablets in the U.S. corporate environment and 39 percent around the world. A new category of mobile apps will become available, debuting in 2015, announced the two companies. These will be tailored to meet the needs of specific industries like “retail, healthcare, banking, travel, telecommunications, and insurance.” IBM’s cloud infrastructure will be heavily used in correlation with Apple’s iCloud service. AppleCare for Enterprise will be added to the customer service domain, providing IT departments and users 24/7 support. “We’re good at building a simple experience and in building devices,” Tim...