Apple and Cisco partnered to optimise the latter’s corporate networks for iOS devices and apps “so that they work together more efficiently and reliably”, addressing the “ever-increasing demands on corporate infrastructure”.

The two firms want to “create a fast lane for iOS business users” by integrating iPhones with Cisco-based enterprise environments and providing “unique collaboration” around the iPhone and iPad.

Apple and Cisco want to improve the iPhone as a business collaboration tool for Cisco’s voice and video services, with the goal of providing employees with a “seamless experience” between iPhone and their desk phone.

The partnership will see them deliver servcies for iOS across mobile, cloud, and collaboration tools, including its video and web-conferencing services.

“iPhone and iPad have become essential tools for the modern workforce and are changing the way work gets done. We believe we can give businesses the tools to maximise the potential of iOS and help employees become even more productive,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook in a statement.

“iOS is the world’s best mobile platform, and nearly every Fortune 500 and Global 500 company today has put iOS at the centre of their mobile strategy,” he added.

Speaking to Cisco sales representatives in Las Vegas, Cook and Cisco chairman John Chambers said the two companies spent 10 months working on this latest move according to the Wall Street Journal.

The report adds that one reason for the announcement could be struggling iPad sales and revenue, which fell 24 per cent in the nine months ended 27 June compared with the same period a year earlier, while Cisco has been trying to narrow its focus to more profitable businesses.

Vice president of enterprise research at CCS Insight, Nicholas McQuire, had reservations about the deal. Commenting on Twitter, he said: “Hope Cisco can make a better thing of an Apple partnership than IBM. Given it has never got enterprise mobility am not holding my breath though”.

In July last year, Apple entered into a similar partnership with IBM to develop industry-specific apps to load on iPhone and iPads and in December 2014 launched MobileFirst for iOS titles.

Customers included Citi, Air Canada, Sprint and Mexican bank Banorte.

McQuire’s colleague Geoff Blaber, who heads mobile device software research, wasn’t as sceptical, tweeting that “enterprise and IoT requirements [are] both creating a far more partner orientated Apple. Cisco & IBM just the start.”

Back in 2007 Cisco sued Apple over the iPhone name, which was also the name for a product it had acquired, but the suit was settled in a way that let both companies use the name.