Apple, maker of the popular iPhone and more recent iPad, recently announced its plan to lure small business owners.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the technology company recently sought is seeking to hire engineers in order to help develop products for entrepreneurs. The company is hoping to capitalize on the popularity of its products with everyday consumers.

The entry into the market is no coincidence, given how much small businesses are spending on technology. A study by Gartner found that businesses in North America are expected to spend $310 billion on technology-related products this year alone.

"They're well aware of the opportunities in business," said Gleacher & Co. analyst Brian Marshall in an interview with the Journal. "This is something they're focusing on even if they're not talking about it publicly."

The design of newly built Apple Stores may also give clues as to the bigger strategy. The news source reports that recently erected stores now include conference rooms that are meant to be used between sales staff and business leaders.

Apple has been in the news recently after customers began to complain of antenna issues with the newest version of the iPhone. In a statement Steve Jobs said that "We're not perfect, phones aren't perfect. But we want to make all our users happy."