Apple Inc. and International Business Machines Corp. will work together to create business- software applications for iPhone and iPad users.
The apps will be tailored to work with IBM’s data analytics and cloud services, the companies said in a statement Tuesday. IBM will sell Apple devices to its customers, and Apple will offer customer-service support for the apps.
The partnership helps Apple as it seeks to get a bigger chunk of the market for corporate users of smartphones and tablets. For Armonk, New York-based IBM, the alliance lets the company adapt its services for business clients who are demanding more services on mobile devices.
IBM shares rose as much as 1.7 percent to $191.64 in late trading after the pact was announced. Cupertino, California-based Apple climbed as much as 1.6 percent to $96.80.