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Topic: Tablets

Apple boasts enterprise sweet spot for the iPad

Summary: Certainly, the iPad is the most successful consumer tablet out there, but the corporate world is helping sales numbers too.

Rachel King

By for Between the Lines |

As Apple touted record iPad sales numbers during its fourth quarter earnings conference call on Wednesday, it highlighted some big customer names too.

ipad
(Credit: Apple)

For the record, Apple sold 22.9 million iPads last quarter. Although estimates were calling for somewhere in between 23 million and 25 million, that's still a lot of tablets compared to just about everyone else in the industry.

The iPad has always been a consumer product first. But it's clear based on the commentary from Apple executives during today's conference call that the business world is contributing to the iPad's bottom line big time too.

Apple chief financial officer Peter Oppenheimer highlighted global banks and government agencies worldwide as major examples.

Here's more:

Financial institutions like Barclays, numerous securities, and Bank of Beijing are deploying iPads to enable employees to better service customers and work securely with financial portfolios and product. In particular, Barclays' rollout of over 8,000 iPads has generated tremendous employing engagement in and feedback, making it the most successful IT deployment in Barclays history.

State and local governments in the United States are also rapidly adopting iPad. Court systems, county inspectors, and law-enforcement agencies use iPad to streamline processes and replace huge amounts of paper. And state legislatures in Virginia, Texas, and West Virginia are all using iPads to give lawmakers instant access to government documents and information.

Outside the US, 10,000 iPads are being deployed as part of broad adoption of a local government workflow solution in Sweden, and over 5,000 iPads have been purchased by the government in the Netherlands for the Dutch tax authority and the Dutch court system.

Apple executives also pointed out some corporate deployments for the iPhone, but it's evident now more than ever that the iPad has found a sweet spot with enterprise customers. With flailing PC (and now Mac) shipments worldwide, the iPad's surge in this regard is likely to continue for awhile.

Nevertheless, 2013 might start to look more interesting with more business-ready tablets on the market finally--most notably Microsoft's Surface.

Related stories:

Topics: Tablets, Apple, iPad, Mobility, Enterprise 2.0

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14 comments
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  • Surface has an opportunity abroad

    I think the iPad may be too firmly entrenched in the U.S to make much of a dent in many of the big corporates. But Surface definitely has an opportunity to grab businesses that have held out - and there are many of those, even in New Zealand where I live. The challenge that Microsoft must overcome is making the Surface available globally. The NZ Microsoft store STILL doesn't sell the Surface RT.
    Fools_Muse
    Reply 2 Votes

    • Windows tablets will be fine...

      Business is not quick to react to new tech (ever tried to get a purchase approved) iPads are there... Everyone knows what they are, it's easy. Business in particular will embrace RT tablets for office and the fact that they connect like laptops; no iTunes or "mothership" software needed. Surface as a brand? That's anyone's guess but windows RT or atom based win 8 pro tablets from OEMs will definitely make headway in business. iPads require change and adaption, windows doesn't.
      MarknWill
      Reply 3 Votes

  • We have to be very clear though to use the established rules

    The rules of ZDNet very clearly state that any device provided for you by your employer does NOT count as part of the sales numbers for that device.

    Sorry people but none of these sales "count".
    toddbottom3
    Reply 3 Votes

    • You keep saying this... I do not think it means what you think it means:P

      I'm unaware of any established or other wise rules of ZDnet for I've yet to see such rules written or stated. Yet you keep using this theme in many a post of late so since said rules are indeed not in effect nor have they ever been to my knowledge I have to assume you are confused.

      Pagan jim
      James Quinn
      Reply 1 Vote

    • Sales Count

      Why not? The business purchased it, it should count as a sale.
      THavoc
      Reply 1 Vote

    • As expected, you got it wrong.

      The rule is that you cannot gauge product popularity based on IT mandates. The iPad in business underscores this law. IT never wanted it, but the device is so popular among executives and employees that IT was overruled. If the Surface takes off, it will almost certainly be the result of IT pushback against the iPad. Again illustrating the law at work: that what is popular with IT is what gets put in the workplace.
      baggins_z
      Reply Vote

      • If that was true...

        RIM would be in much better position.

        The fact of the matter is IT has dramatically changed, the average Boss and employee understands an infinitely more about Servers, Software, Workstations and Networking than 10 years ago. And if they can get it to work in their home quickly and easily, then a high paid professional should be able to do the same thing in the office.
        Komplex
        Reply Vote

    • toddbottom3 go play with your Surface....

      I see your in hiding with all the screw ups with Surface......your a whimp toddbottom3 at least Loverock Davidson had the courage to make a post........you went and hid out under your bridge......typical troll move......
      Over and Out
      Reply Vote

  • Wow!

    Nice paid advertising by Apple!

    I'd like to know how these enterprises manage to control them - such as banning Skype or not allowing the user to tinker with network settings or how not to install applications that aren't business related.
    Gisabun
    Reply 3 Votes

    • Since most businesses

      Don't lock their PCs down like that ether, what exactly is your point?
      baggins_z
      Reply Vote

    • The Bank of Beijing certainly locks down their iPads more than any

      imaginary enterprise businesses you dreamed up for you comments. Go back to playing Super Mario on your game toy and leave business security concerns to the grownups.
      kenosha77a
      Reply Vote

    • Possible

      Pretty much any of the major MDM soltutions can do all this as Apple provides a healthy set of API to manage iOS.

      I'd wager the bulk of these deployments are managed and are restricted to set function / Applications. They are are likely restricted from much of the consumer usage of iPad.

      I'd wager the bulk of Fortune 100 and beyond have controls on their PC's via group policy or point solutions, firewalls to prevent anything they don't want done. Don't assume places that don't have security needs are the norm.
      MobileAdmin
      Reply Vote

    • You can control prifiles, settings, access rights in iOS devices perfectly

      There is Apple's software for that -- it pushes all the setting. And yes, you can decide everything about set of applications that device can hold.
      DDERSSS
      Reply Vote

  • Surface Pro will knock it off.

    So far a lot of corporate already used Samsung Slate 7 as a better tablet than iPad for running all corporate application on the way Surface PRO will definitely knock iPad off from corporate.
    alcskid
    Reply 2 Votes
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