Search

Some 25 years ago, Steve Jobs and Apple lost the war of corporate computing to IBM and Microsoft. I imagine, though, that Jobs probably considers it just a battle in his own Thirty Years War against Microsoft and its founder. While Apples recent iPhone announcement was completely focused on consumers, the iPhone might also serve to bolster Apples position in the enterprise.

At the start of the 1980s, Jobs was much more prominent than Bill Gates. And while he has outpaced Gates in the upscale consumer world, cracking the enterprise would likely bring Apples co-founder great pleasure and finally end the war.

Given the size of the mobile phone market, though, it makes perfect sense for Apple to take aim there rather than the enterprise. Apple claims that a mere 1% market share will result in sales of 10 million units in 2007. Given the hefty price tag of $599, though, many analysts reckon the potential market to be dramatically smaller. So what does this mean for the enterprise?

Well many enterprise road warriors love new toys and the iPhone is shaping up to be just that. Who knows how many Treo-toters or BlackBerry users will be drawn to it? Investors and analysts appear concerned as the stock of both Palm and RIM took hits immediately after Apples announcements.

Unreported in any of the major press stories I saw were several less glamorous but positive developments for those interested in Apple as an enterprise offering.

While still officially a rumor as I write this on Jan. 10, the new version of Apples iWork suite is to include an Excel-compatible spreadsheet program. If this is the case, it would round out the core office suite.