Apple and SAP collaborate to bring business apps to the iPhone

New tool to help developers create enterprise apps for the iPhone out end of March

Apple and SAP are to join forces, creating a tool to help developers create enterprise apps for the iPhone.

The new tool, which will ease the integration of data from SAP applications with the iOS ecosystem, is the result of an ongoing partnership that began last year, when SAP announced a plan to deliver a new iOS software development kit (SDK) and a training academy to help developers, partners and customers to build native iOS apps tailored to business needs.

The tool, which will be released March 30th, according to Reuters, is likely to be aimed at addressing areas of weakness in both company's offerings.

The iPhone is first and foremost a consumer device which has made few real inroads into the business sphere, particularly compared to early successes of BlackBerry, but also to Android which is more open to developers. As sales of its iconic ten-year-old device have slowed, Apple is seeking new markets for the iPhone and its application ecosystem.

Previously announced collaborations aimed at boosting its business profile have included a partnership with Cisco to create voice messaging apps designed for corporate networks and connectivity options to allow for rapid authentication of iPhones and iPads. Apple has also worked with IBM to bring enterprise analytics to its mobile devices, and with Deloitte in a scheme to encourage the development of new business apps for the iOS platform.

For SAP the move is a chance to move away from the PC, where most of its enterprise applications are currently accessed, and onto the mobile, which many analyst see as the future.

"The collaboration between our two firms is unparalleled from an engineering standpoint," said Rick Knowles, a senior vice president at SAP. "Every five to six weeks, we've put our developers in the room with Apple's lead engineers to do a code-level review."

Investment bank Morgan Stanley has predicted a slump in iPhone sales this year, in part because consumers are expected to hold out for the iPhone 8 which may or may not be released towards the end of the year. Sales have also been weaker than expected in the key market of China.