IBM becomes global Apple Mac integrator

IBM has launched Mac integration services for enterprises wanting to roll out Apple computers, praising the ease of use of Apple devices and citing their continued sales growth.

The moves builds on IBM’s milestone partnership with Apple, and allows customers to work with IBM to directly procure, integrate and manage Macs across their IT infrastructure and staff.

IBM’s announcement included a ringing endorsement for Apple, stating Macs were a “rising requirement” in enterprise and that shipments of Macs are growing faster than the industry average.

Macs have “outgrown the PC industry every year for the last decade,” according to IBM, which cited the platform’s “ease of adoption and use”.

IBM revealed it has been doing custom Mac integrations for clients, and that with “growing interest” in Mac adoption in the enterprise it decided to offer this as a standard service.

The new service also uses IBM’s experience rolling out Macs to its own staff around the world under its Mac@IBM program. Big Blue cited its reseller partnership with Apple as an opportunity to commercialise what it had learnt during the rollout.

Just this week, a leaked video revealed that IBM expects to install hundreds of thousands of Macs for its workforce.

The new service is a specific Mac support enhancement to IBM’s MobileFirst services portfolio, which already includes support for iOS devices including iPad and iPhone.

Offered via the cloud as a software-as-a-service or as an on-premise solution, the Mac integration services allow clients to order Macs and have them delivered to staff without additional setup, imaging or configuration. The services can also support personally-owned Macs that are authorised for staff to use at work.

IBM is combining its services with the Casper Suite from JAMF Software, which allows clients to set up and deploy Macs, including MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, iMac and Mac Pro.

IBM also offers ongoing support for Macs, including OS and image management, software application and update management, an enterprise app catalog, automatic compliance and configuration updates for security, and inventory and reporting for hardware and software. Users also can access self-help resources, including password reset, chat, knowledge forums and help desk services.