The technology giant is a hiring a dedicated sales force to talk with potential clients such as Citigroup (C), and is and working with a dozen or so developers, two sources familiar with its plans told Reuters.

The report said Apple hopes to offset a gradual deceleration in growth — highlighted by iPad sales that have declined three straight quarters — by expanding its footprint in the workplace.

Apple recently launched a partnership with IBM (IBM) to develop apps for corporate clients and sell them on devices. The maker of iPhones and iPads now plans to taken on sector leaders such as Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Oracle and SAP.

—Reuters contributed to this report.