Thursday, March 22, 2007

Apple iPhone versus REST Smartphone Makers

Apple’s iPhone is without a doubt a game-changer for smartphones, whether it actually sells well itself or not. Smartphones have simply been to clumsy to use to be practical for a wide audience. That all changes with the iPhone, and it doesn’t even have to sell well - nay, doesn’t even have to actually be available - in order to harm the competition. According to USATODAY, Cellphone users set their sights on Apple’s iPhone:

Priya Sanghvi wants an Apple iPhone from AT&T’s Cingular Wireless when it comes out in June, and she is already strategizing how to get it. Now a Verizon Wireless customer, she’s exploring a range of options, including trying to wrestle with Verizon to let her out of her contract early, using one of the new online swap services to dump the remaining months of the contract, or even just paying the $175 early-termination fee.

Click here to read the full story

Labels: , , , ,

Friday, March 2, 2007

Interst in the iPhone Still High

In a survey of 2,500 U.S. customers, Morgan Stanley found that "more people are interested in buying an iPhone than the combined number of people who already own or are planning to buy a similar high-end device" in the near future. According to the survey, 23 percent of customers are interested in buying the phone, while 19 percent already own or are planning to buy a similar gadget.

Double-Digit Growth Expected

"Between now and when the iPhone is expected to be released in June 2007, there are few catalysts for the stock, and we believe that this provides an attractive price point for investors in the meantime," the analyst wrote, upgrading the Cupertino, Calif., company to "Overweight" from "Equal weight."

With several product launches in 2007, the analyst said Apple will be able to "meaningfully expand its addressable market, which should enable it to sustain double-digit revenue growth."

iPhone Interest High

Morgan Stanley analyst Kathryn Huberty reaffirmed an "Overweight" rating on Apple and said the market is underestimating the likely success of the iPhone. In a survey of 2,500 U.S. customers, Morgan Stanley found that "more people are interested in buying an iPhone than the combined number of people who already own or are planning to buy a similar high-end device" in the near future.

According to the survey, 23 percent of customers are interested in buying the phone, while 19 percent already own or are planning to buy a similar gadget. "We view Apple's powerful brand, distribution and customer experience engine, and product development as key to driving incremental revenue growth," Huberty added.

Labels: , , , ,