Thirty years ago, Apple (AAPL -0.57%) and IBM (IBM -0.89%) were arch-enemies. But now, like the Federation and the Klingons, they've formed an alliance that could help Apple expand into a whole new universe: the enterprise market.
This week on 1-Up on Wall Street, the Motley Fool's weekly video show about turning geek enthusiasm into great investments, guest host Allison Southwick and analysts Tim Beyers and Nathan Alderman discuss what this new pact to create software and sell support for iDevices might mean for Apple and IBM. Tim notes that this move would never have happened under Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' tenure, and marks yet another bold move from his successor as CEO, Tim Cook. And Nathan cites research that shows Apple's growing popularity among business users -- and lack thereof among IT professionals -- as two reasons why Apple's making this move now.
Also in this week's lineup:
- Finland weeps as Microsoft (MSFT -1.84%) lays off 18,000 employees, including nearly half of the workforce it absorbed in its recent merger with Finnish handset maker Nokia. What does this move say about new CEO Satya Nadella's big strategy for Microsoft, and will pain now pay off later?
- Rupert Murdoch wants to merge his 21st Century Fox (FOX) with Time Warner. Besides the possibility of a big-screen team-up between Fox and Marvel's X-Men and DC/Warner Bros.'s Justice League, is this good news for investors?
- Murdoch's bid for Warner Bros. could drive prices up for content creators. Alison pits Tim against Nathan in a debate over whether AMC Networks (AMCX 3.42%) could be a good place for investors' money.
Plus, we imagine the one place Google wouldn't go to try to sell ads, and which other heroes could use a gender-swap in the wake of Marvel's announcement that the mighty Thor is now a woman. Check out the video below, follow us on Twitter @TMF1Up, and feel free to leave us comments here or on YouTube.
