Another record profit for Apple

[hans007]

I think the "extortion" you cite is massively overblown. Fronting $400 per iPhone hurts because they sold so many units, but how many months does it take to recoup? I'd argue about 12 months. Over the 2-year commitment, they benefit greatly from subsidizing any high-end smartphone. Smartphone plans generate healthy cash flow for VZ and ATT despite the initial hit to net income.

Isn't there a several hundred dollars subsidy for the Galaxy Nexus and other top smartphones?

the subsidy is less on the other phones. the other phones that all have LTE and use even more data and generate even higher overages.

if the iphone was worth so much money why are at&t and verizon losing money in the quarters they are selling the most iphones.

there was a czech phone company that actually dropped the iphone entirely because of it.

 

[Pliablemoose]

the subsidy is less on the other phones. the other phones that all have LTE and use even more data and generate even higher overages.

if the iphone was worth so much money why are at&t and verizon losing money in the quarters they are selling the most iphones.

there was a czech phone company that actually dropped the iphone entirely because of it.

It's grade school math, do the numbers, the carriers aren't losing money... use some critical thinking...

 

[postmortemIA]

Both Verizon and AT&T posted huge losses for last quarter. Looks like they paid full prices for iPhones and they yet have to reclaim subsidies made for it. Neither can afford to not have iPhone, so Apple is nicely playing them against each other and taking their cash.

 

[badb0y]

If the iPhone 5 has LTE and/or a 4 inch screen, I will definitely get it. If not I will look at WP7 and Android for my next. I will however sell my iPad 2 and buy a iPad 3.

 

[Dari]

Both Verizon and AT&T posted huge losses for last quarter. Looks like they paid full prices for iPhones and they yet have to reclaim subsidies made for it. Neither can afford to not have iPhone, so Apple is nicely playing them against each other and taking their cash.

the subsidy is less on the other phones. the other phones that all have LTE and use even more data and generate even higher overages.

if the iphone was worth so much money why are at&t and verizon losing money in the quarters they are selling the most iphones.

there was a czech phone company that actually dropped the iphone entirely because of it.

AT&T posted a $6.7B loss because of the T-Mobile debacle. Verizon posted a loss because they took a charge for something.

 

[Pliablemoose]

AT&T posted a $6.7B loss because of the T-Mobile debacle. Verizon posted a loss because they took a charge for something.

Pensions

 

[Tom]

Bigger screen isn't better, it's just bigger.

I expect the fad of big screen phones will backlash soon and any phone bigger than an iphone will be seen as clunky and out-dated.

cell phones are at least partly about fashion.

 

[Oyeve]

Bigger screen isn't better, it's just bigger.

I expect the fad of big screen phones will backlash soon and any phone bigger than an iphone will be seen as clunky and out-dated.

cell phones are at least partly about fashion.

Fashion for the idiots perhaps, but anything smaller than 4" is just plain shit and unusable. Granted, 5" screens are idiotic too for a phone but I think 4.5" is the sweet spot.

 

[VashHT]

Bigger screen isn't better, it's just bigger.

I expect the fad of big screen phones will backlash soon and any phone bigger than an iphone will be seen as clunky and out-dated.

cell phones are at least partly about fashion.

I'd jump on a 4" or 4.3" iphone in a second if they made one, my iphone 4 is way too small for my hands. You've obviously never used a phone that big, because they don't feel clunky at all and the extra screen space really stands out when you're browsing the web or playing games on your phone.

 

[Red Storm]

Bigger screen isn't better, it's just bigger.

I expect the fad of big screen phones will backlash soon and any phone bigger than an iphone will be seen as clunky and out-dated.

cell phones are at least partly about fashion.

You are entitled to your own opinion, but trying to pass it off as fact just doesn't work, sorry.

To me, bigger screens are better. I watch videos, surf the web, and play games on my phone and a bigger screen is far better for these things.

 

[ponyo]

Bigger screen isn't better, it's just bigger.

I expect the fad of big screen phones will backlash soon and any phone bigger than an iphone will be seen as clunky and out-dated.

cell phones are at least partly about fashion.

So when iPhone5 gets 4" screen, you're going to say the same right? "Bigger screen isn't better, it's just bigger."

If we just used cellphones for calls, I would agree with you 100%. But people are using it more and more for web browsing, games, and other computer like functions.

My current dream phone is 4" 720p screen phone. Unfortunately it doesn't exist due to screen tech manufacturing limitations and I had to settle for 4.6" 720p phone. Once the technology matures and 4" 720p or higher phones are possible, I'll get my 4" phone.

 

[MrX8503]

My dream phone is also a 4" 720p screen. I think the maximum size that smartphones will start leveling off at is 4.3"

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

So when iPhone5 gets 4" screen, you're going to say the same right? "Bigger screen isn't better, it's just bigger."

What makes you think this will happen?

 

[ponyo]

What makes you think this will happen?

Out of necessity. Apple will have to increase the screen size if they want something higher res than 960x640. Unless there's some IPS screen manufacturing tech I'm unaware of.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Out of necessity. Apple will have to increase the screen size if they want something higher res than 960x640. Unless there's some IPS screen manufacturing tech I'm unaware of.

Maybe there's something better out there than IPS that can account for a higher res?

 

[Red Storm]

Maybe there's something better out there than IPS that can account for a higher res?

With supply in the millions? There may very well be such tech, but mass production availability determines what gets used.

I don't keep track of such things, but I'm sure others here do so they would know.

 

[ponyo]

Maybe there's something better out there than IPS that can account for a higher res?

You mean like OLED? Samsung has that market cornered. And even they can't currently make the screen that small with the high res needed. Samsung had to use 4.6" pentile screen to do 720p on S-AMOLED.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

You mean like OLED? Samsung has that market cornered. And even they can't currently make the screen that small with the high res needed. Samsung had to use 4.6" pentile screen to do 720p on S-AMOLED.

Whatever they choose to do, I don't see them going away from the Retina displays that they have. I would also bet they don't go any larger in terms of form factor, they'll just get rid of the bezel.

 

[Phynaz]

How the hell do you hold a touchscreen device that doesn't have a bezel?

 

[WelshBloke]

How the hell do you hold a touchscreen device that doesn't have a bezel?

For a phone its not too much of a problem. Mind you they can only make the bezel so small.

 

[Red Storm]

How the hell do you hold a touchscreen device that doesn't have a bezel?

I think he means decrease, not eliminate entirely.

Unless Apple gets rid of the physical home button though, I don't see how it will work.

That is one nice thing about the Nexus/ICS. Software buttons means they were able to increase the screen size and shrink the bezel. Having those buttons vanish and the video I'm watching get that much bigger is really nice.

 

[Dari]

You mean like OLED? Samsung has that market cornered. And even they can't currently make the screen that small with the high res needed. Samsung had to use 4.6" pentile screen to do 720p on S-AMOLED.

Samsung does not have that market cornered and it's flaws are obvious when you look at it.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

I think he means decrease, not eliminate entirely.

Unless Apple gets rid of the physical home button though, I don't see how it will work.

That is one nice thing about the Nexus/ICS. Software buttons means they were able to increase the screen size and shrink the bezel. Having those buttons vanish and the video I'm watching get that much bigger is really nice.

Well I think there were some concept pictures photoshopped that showed that you can increase the screen size while still keeping the same form factor by shrinking the bezel on all 4 sides without getting rid of the home button.

Something like this?

 

[ponyo]

Samsung does not have that market cornered and it's flaws are obvious when you look at it.

Last report I read showed Samsung controlling 95% OLED market.

OLED flaws are obvious but so are its strengths. You might hate Samsung and downplay their AMOLED technology but it's widely accepted fact Samsung is the market leader without equal. Even your beloved Sony knows this and is using Samsung OLED display in their new PS Vita handheld. Sony made the smart decision to go with AMOLED since that has zero lag and instant response time. So no ghosting. Not to mention colors pop on AMOLED. I can't even play my Sony PSP because the action on the screen ghosts so bad. AMOLED will eliminate this entirely.

 

[Red Storm]

Something like this?

Drawings are nice, but is there a display that size with the increased resolution to keep the "Retina Display" tag? And can it be mass produced for release this year?