Channel Beat: Bending iPhones, iOS8 Plague Apple

In this week’s top stories, Apple is dealing with major backlash against its new iPhone 6 Plus and iOS8, just days after the phone and software were launched.

Apple sold a record 10 million new iPhones over the opening weekend, but iPhone 6 Plus consumers were less than pleased when they discovered their brand-new phones bent after being sat on or exposed to moderate pressure.

Apple yanked its new operating system, iOS8, following widespread reports of lost cellular connections, battery drain, and disabled Touch ID.

The issues are unusual for Apple, from which partners and consumers have come to expect seamless launches. Apple’s stock took a dip after the two glitches hit the media.

This week has seen multiple rumors traded about who will merge with vendor EMC, with names ranging from Cisco to Dell.

Cisco’s John Chambers shot down reports that his company was exploring a deal with EMC, whose investors are pressuring the company to seal a merger or acquisition deal with a systems vendor.

HP and Dell have both been floated as possible suitors to EMC, and Michael Dell specifically told CNBC he is not ruling out any acquisitions. EMC may also sell its VMware business, in which the company holds about 80 percent of equity.

HP will launch its SDN app store on Oct. 1, allowing channel partners a platform for selling SDN apps.

HP first mentioned the store a year ago, and apps will cover a range of functions from network virtualization to distributed firewall. Customers can buy and download apps directly from the store.

HP is encouraging tech and channel partners to build and contribute apps to the store. HP said it currently has 30 tech partners working on apps to contribute in the future.

PUBLISHED SEPT. 26, 2014