Just 1 of the 10 things Apple wont tell you article.

Icom

We need another game-changing gadget.”

Upgrade fatigue isn’t the only thing critics dislike about Apple’s product rollouts; some say the new products aren’t new enough. Investors are growing impatient with Apple’s pipeline and calling for another tech revolution. It’s time for Apple to shake up the mobile market again, says Walt Piecyk, technology analyst with BTIG brokerage. He says a completely new Apple phone that costs less than the $649 starting retail price for the iPhone 4S would be a good start. Other deep-pocketed tech companies are also poised to compete with the iPhone with their own smartphones. Facebook (US:FB)  is also reportedly considering developing its own phone and Google (US:GOOG) , which bought Motorola last year, is reportedly building its own phone. (Facebook and Google declined to comment.)


Apple still has strong iPhone sales, but no company should be so dependent on one mobile phone, Piecyk says. In fact, the iPhone market makes up more than 50% of Apple’s sales, according to research by investment bank Piper Jaffray. “Remember when Nokia, Motorola and RIM led the mobile phone market?” he says. “Market share can change very quickly.” Another reason for a phone that addresses the lower end of the market: the days of carriers offering massive subsidies to consumers are numbered, Piecyk says. If and when that happens, he says most people won’t pay $600 for a phone. Apple disagrees. A company spokeswoman noted in February that despite its price tag, “iPhone 4S has been an incredible hit with customers around the world.”

Blackjack93117

They wont pay $600 for a phone especially when they just got done doing it a year ago -

The iphone market is saturated, Apple's bubble is about to burst.

kbz1960

Look out apple as RIM is innovating.

Anthony

My phone contract spread the cost of my BB over so many years. What are these massive subsidies this guy talks about?

StephenBB81

Anthony said:

My phone contract spread the cost of my BB over so many years. What are these massive subsidies this guy talks about?

Your phone contract spreading the price of the phone over your contract is a form of a subsidized phone purchase. you didn't have to pay for the phone upfront.

In North America most of the Carriers offer you a visual discount for your phone,


notice the Red price, is the price you'll pay if you sign the contract.

Anthony

@StephenBB81 carriers will always subsidize a phone. Why did this guy state this form of subsidy will soon stop when that's almost certainly not true? He must be talking about something else.

How many people would buy a new car without a loan or lease!

StephenBB81

@Anthony, in some countries they DON'T offer carrier subsidizes. and people have to buy their phones in full.

And what this guy is talking about is the reduction of carrier subs. Right now some of the phones are discounted as deeply as $500, while others are only discounted in the $300 range to make the phones in the same price range.

IF the Carriers put a cap on how much they are willing to sub, or if they do a Tab payment like Koodo does then phones in the $700 range, will not cost the same as phones in the $500 range, like they do now. Apple's cost will start to make them out of reach for many of the people who buy it now.

Blackjack93117

I wish they would just sell me an expensive phone and then give me cheap carrier service.

MissoulaMarinerFan

Blackjack93117 said:

I wish they would just sell me an expensive phone and then give me cheap carrier service.

@Blackjack93117 - I feel that way about the airplane companies - instead of "up-front" charging me for luggage other than a carry-on, just make my damn tickets $25 or $35 more.

Blackjack93117

Yes and "reward points" and air miles all the other BS - just give me the stuff at the non-inflated price lol. Instead of charging me more money so they can give some back...

MissoulaMarinerFan

Blackjack93117 said:

Yes and "reward points" and air miles all the other BS - just give me the stuff at the non-inflated price lol. Instead of charging me more money so they can give some back...

Hooray Capitalism!...I guess... :-??

BB4tw

Blackjack93117 said:

Yes and "reward points" and air miles all the other BS - just give me the stuff at the non-inflated price lol. Instead of charging me more money so they can give some back...

Amen to that!!

StephenBB81

Blackjack93117 said:

Yes and "reward points" and air miles all the other BS - just give me the stuff at the non-inflated price lol. Instead of charging me more money so they can give some back...

Rewards keep me loyal, I am happy for them, I spend about 3 hours every year going over my rewards programs and my expected requirements for the next year to maximize them.
In doing so , I've fueled my BlackBerry addition with Hotel reward points for the last 3 years, I went to BlackBerry World on Airline reward points, and next year will be going to England on Rewards points.

StephenBB81

Blackjack93117 said:

I wish they would just sell me an expensive phone and then give me cheap carrier service.

When was the last time you audited your mobile usage against your carriers offerings?

There are often a lot cheaper services from your carrier if you don't go on contract and pay month to month, or prepaid service. you just have to be self aware.

Blackjack93117

Yes Stephen but the whole issue for me is it's all just more stuff to manage... and time is money. I would much rather they keep it simple and optimal for me so I don't have to do all the accounting work.

Instead of counting and auditing, to make sure I get the best deal, I could make more money at my hourly rate by doing productive work, on the income side, rather than managing and optimizing the outgo side... And they know that.

StephenBB81

Blackjack93117 said:

Yes Stephen but the whole issue for me is it's all just more stuff to manage... and time is money. I would much rather they keep it simple and optimal for me so I don't have to do all the accounting work.

Instead of counting and auditing, to make sure I get the best deal, I could make more money at my hourly rate by doing productive work. And they know that.

Very true they do,
Mind you my Auditing of my travel usage and rewards programs equates to a 4 figure hourly rate.
on ones phone contract doing a simple audit of your usage could mean 2 less hours that month you made money, but over the course of 12 months you make more than you lost. or so I've found.

On the phone side, my addiction to BlackBerry fuels my audits because I compare usage with other devices I own.