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Possible move to A7 chip/Touch ID will boost appeal of iPad in the enterprise sector, says analyst

Image: mdy.co.uk

Image: mdy.co.uk

Deutsche Bank’s Chris Whitmore argues in an investment note that Apple’s expected use of the 64-bit A7 chip will make the iPad a much more appealing proposition for the enterprise market.

Enhanced security & 64-bit architecture should drive enterprise penetration We believe enhanced security functionality on iOS hardware is likely to drive greater enterprise penetration over time (e.g. fingerprint and password authentication). In addition, moving to a 64-bit architecture is important to enterprise for several reasons. First, it ‘future proofs’ App development and protects investment for the migration to 64-bit computing over time. In short, enabling 64bit allows enterprises to build custom apps for iPads with greatly reduced obsolescence risk.

It should be noted, however, that one part of his equation – the Touch ID fingerprint sensor – may or may not make it into the iPad 5. We’ve heard conflicting rumors about this, claimed parts showing that appear to be the sensor in an iPad 5 casing on the one hand, with others claiming that Apple wants to retain Touch ID as a unique feature of the iPhone 5s for now.

The iPad has long been popular in the enterprise market, among large and small businesses alike, with Apple having made substantial in-roads into the sector. With the launch of iOS 7, Apple intensified its marketing efforts to businesses. If Whitmore is right that the A7 chip will add to demand, there will be some pleased-looking faces in Apple’s board-room and some worried-looking ones in Intel’s.

Via CNET

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Comments

  1. PMZanetti - 10 years ago

    Man, people are stupid. Touch ID is not enhanced security. At all. Swipe to the right and there’s the passcode lock. Same security as before.

    • Ben Lovejoy - 10 years ago

      That’s true, but I suspect the thinking here is that Touch ID is security people will user, all the time, every time. Passcodes are just enough of a bump that people set them to 15 mins or an hour.

    • shareef777 - 10 years ago

      With touchID people can set their passcode to something more difficult vs the standard 4 digit code that people use today.

      • PMZanetti - 10 years ago

        Which they could before, too. It has been suggested that this is now “more likely” for people to do. I would argue its now even less likely. People are not going to create 8 digit or more character pass codes when they won’t be entering them often. Longer is harder to remember, and long passwords that entered less frequently are much much harder to remember.

    • Steve Grenier - 10 years ago

      You do realize Touch ID requires a fingerprint match? Anyone can enter a passcode if they know it. Restricting device use to a specific person enhances security dramatically.

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Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!


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