Rod Hall: What The Apple/Cisco Enterprise Alliance Means

• Apple Inc. AAPL and Cisco Systems, Inc. CSCO recently announced a partnership to create a fast lane for iOS business users.
• JP Morgan's Rod Hall said that the partnership is a "material plus" for Apple, while the firm doubts that "the alliance means much" for Cisco.

Apple and Cisco are partnering to help give Apple more penetration into the enterprise market. The alliance offers a "unique collaboration" that would optimize Cisco networks for iOS business users, potentially giving Apple a higher penetration into the enterprise market.

Hall said, "We see the integration of mobile and business voice as a material plus for Apple only to the extent that it encourages businesses to pay for their employees iPhones." However, Hall also argued that better connectivity would "increase platform stickiness."

For Cisco, Hall said the firm doesn't believe the announcement "means much," even though the company may charge more for "improved iOS integration."

Year-to-date, Cisco has struggled, falling nearly 10 percent, while Apple stock is flat. Much of Cisco's losses – as well as steep declines in Apple – have come in the past month. Since August 1, Cisco dropped 11.3 percent. During that time, Apple dipped more than 8.5 percent as well.