New | Apple goes into partnership with Deloitte to advise companies on using iPhones and Apple software

Apple is extending its push into selling business technology by forging a partnership with the Deloitte consulting firm to advise companies on using iPhones, iPads and Apple software in the workplace.

While Apple primarily sells to the consumer market, it’s confronting a global slowdown in consumer demand for smartphones and tablets. That’s spurred the Cupertino, California, tech giant to announce business-focused partnerships with companies that sell technology to corporate customers. These include IBM, SAP and Cisco.

Apple says it sold US$25 billion worth of products and services to businesses in the 12 months through September 2015. That was a 40 per cent increase, but just a slice of its $233 billion in total sales. CEO Tim Cook told The Associated Press that Apple will soon announce figures that show more growth. Apple reports its quarterly earnings on October 27.

“It’s a healthy number and it’s an incredibly great growth rate,” he said.

Analysts say businesses are using more Apple devices after years of relying on computers running Microsoft programmes like Windows, Office and Exchange. As mobile devices have become more popular, some companies found gadgets running Google’s Android software to be cheaper and easily adapted to run specialised apps.