Customer demand prompts BT to embrace Apple

BT Engage IT and Business Direct to punt Apple devices, software, peripherals and services to client base

BT has become the latest mainstream reseller to throw its weight behind Apple in recognition of the Mac vendor's growing prominence in the workplace.

BT has become an Apple Authorised Reseller, allowing it to punt Apple products through its mid-market and SMB VAR arms BT Engage IT and BT Business Direct brands.

Apple has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the enterprise market thanks to the bring-your-own-device craze and BT Engage IT chief executive John Thornhill said the partnership was driven by customer demand.

"We are at an interesting point in the use of IT by companies of all sizes – especially with the use of consumer-type devices coming into the workplace," said Thornhill. "Apple has always been strong in specific sectors, such as design, but we are increasingly receiving requests for its devices across our customer base.

"Becoming an Apple Authorised Reseller means that we can deliver exactly what our customers want and need, no matter who it is manufactured by or which operating system it runs."

Last September, corporate reseller rival Insight UK launched a range of Apple services designed to transform it into the vendor's top supplier in the enterprise space. Integrator SCC also made its first foray into the Apple channel last year.

BT said it will offer a range of products including the iPad, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Pro and Mac mini, along with associated software, care packs and peripherals. This will be backed by specialist sales and support teams.