Apple is reportedly trying to counteract a downturn in the sales of the iPad not by lowering the price of the tablet computer but by offering the tablets as the new preferred work tool.

News website 9to5Mac.com reports that after the company reported a slowdown in the sales of the iPad during its recent earnings call for the 2015 third quarter, the company has reached out to more than 40 technology enterprises to solidify the iPad's presence as a work tool.

Among the companies that Apple has reportedly gotten in touch with are accounting firm Xero, digital cash register Revel Systems, and software developer ServiceMax, as well as other business app makers.

Some of the companies have been invited in order to train Apple Business Specialists. In addition, Apple will reportedly review the apps being produced by their partner companies and provide guidance to make them more compatible with the iPad, as well as encourage developers of complementary software to make interconnected apps.

Sales of the iPad had gone down to 10.9 million units for the fiscal Q3 2015 period from 13.2 million a year ago.

Meanwhile, MacRumors reports that like many Apple projects, the partnership program is said to be cloaked in secrecy, to the point that Apple is said to be discouraging partners to referring to it by its presumed internal name, the "Mobility Partner Program".

Aside from Xero, Revel and ServiceMax, no other companies is confirmed to be participating in the program, and some of Apple partners do not even know the other companies participating in the MPP. However, it has been revealed that a few other undisclosed partners have been invited to join last March's Apple sales conference, a private event that is usually for Apple employees only.

Apple's current Mobility Partner Program is similar to its previous partnership with IBM last year.