Fleetsmith

Fleetsmith — the startup founded in 2016 developing the software for mobile device management which simplifies remote setup and deployment of smartphones, tablets and computers of Apple in workplaces. By the end of June, 2020 the company attracted more than $40 million a venture capital from Menlo Ventures and other investors.

History

2020: Apple purchased the developer of tools for implementation of iPhone, iPad and Mac in workplaces

At the end of June, 2020 Apple announced Fleetsmith acquisition, but did not begin to set the price of the transaction. Other terms of agreement also remained confidential.

Though Apple generally sells phones and computers to consumers, in recent years the company pays much attention to business market. For this purpose Apple cooperates with such IT- giants, IBM as well as SAP. The CEO of Apple Tim Cook says that business market opened huge opportunities before the company. Acquisition of Fleetsmith should give a new impulse for development in this direction.

Apple announced Fleetsmith acquisition, but did not begin to set the price of the transaction

The Fleetsmith technology uses advantages of "The program of registration of devices of Apple" (DEP). It allows IT departments to attach new gadgets to corporate network as soon as the employee pulls out them from a box and will connect to Wi-Fi. It is not the only useful Fleetsmith function. Service allows to configure and update devices, to control their status and many other things.

The analyst of Constellation Research Holger Müller (Holger Mueller) in a conversation with the SiliconANGLE edition said that corporate services are one of the main strategy of future growth of Apple therefore the companies are necessary for an ability to manage devices both for customer service improvement, and for increase in income.

Apple, as a rule, makes purchases to provide new features at the beneficial price. One of the largest competitors of Fleetsmith is the Jamf Software company which sells similar management tools mobile devices. Though Fleetsmith initially serviced clients of the smaller size, than Jamf, Apple can expand the available software and attract much larger customers. Terms of transaction are not disclosed, but Apple almost for certain paid much less, than Jamf acquisition would cost.^[1]

Notes