• Wall Street Journal, Thursday, July 22, 2010 10:46 AM

Ian Sherr reports that Apple is trying to leverage the appeal of its iPhone and iPad devices to target the small business market that has largely remained in the PC camp for computers and servers over the years. It's primarily going after local businesses that it can reach through one of its nearly 300 retail stores, according to sources familiar with the company's strategy.

As further evidence of the thrust, Sherr cites job postings for engineers on the Apple site that read: "Thousands of businesses run on Apple products. Many more would like to, and that's where you come in."

Apple officially declined comment but Sherr's sources with the company say it's a natural progression and that headquarters has increasingly handed responsibility for small and mid-sized business accounts to its retail stores. It also has designed conference rooms in its newer stores that are specifically meant for meetings between sales staff and business executives.

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