is the Apple status symbol over?

[MrX8503]

kinda takes the premium out of a premium brand. i thought samsung made a bad move in naming the S3 mini using the premium name on a non premium device, but this has to be worse.

Discounts are worse than a device faking to have premium internals?

 

[ray6712]

what's basically happening with Apple is investors are betting higher numbers that are unachievable in almost any climate a lot higher than Apple itself forecast. Therefor when Apple doesn't reach these numbers the stock takes a dive and people fear troubles brewing. So they adjust which effects the stock price. Any company on planet earth would live to pull Apples earnings per quarter

 

[openwheel]

2 million sold at launch which is around what the iPhone 4 sold. That's still well over the launch that the Android phones have been able to accomplish. I know you guys always tout that 5 million Galaxy note sales # but that's over a month or two or more. The iPhone can easily hit 5 million within a month if not well more.

Obvious and correct conclusion? How much more biased can you get? When you guys link to stupid articles designed to make fun of Apple going "LOL 1 person in line only" do you even sound remotely credible? The articles go on to explain what happened, but you guys say things like "Worst Apple launch in history," etc. Bias?

I have no idea what you are smoking. Sounds like you are arguing with an imaginary friend. Who is "you guys" that made such statement?

This thread is about Apple as a status symbol. I said that Apple is the poor man's status symbol. It has been for years and will be for the next few.

 

[lothar]

Apple doesn't want to become #1, just like Mercedes doesn't want to become #1.

Their brand value depends upon being 'exclusive' and 'different'. That is why I am surprised they actually came out with an iPad mini, and frankly if Jobs was still alive and in charge I doubt it would have happened.

At least in the States, the people I know don't consider the i-products to be status symbols anymore (because they are so common), but people still consider them cool or "the best". The luster has definitely worn off though. My non-techie mother shocked me at Thanksgiving because she said she was considering switching from a dumbphone to a WP8 (no specific model in mind). I really don't like Microsoft's current advertising campaign but I guess it must be working...

WP8 has an advertising campaign?

 

[lothar]

Discounts are worse than a device faking to have premium internals?

For Samsung or the consumer?
I'm pretty sure Samsung earns a higher profit margin on the Galaxy S3 Mini than they do on the regular Galaxy S3.

 

[TuxDave]

For Samsung or the consumer?
I'm pretty sure Samsung earns a higher profit margin on the Galaxy S3 Mini than they do on the regular Galaxy S3.

I read it as against Samsung by hurting its branding. But then again we're just a bunch of nerds on a forum, who are we to know whether or not that's a good long term business strategy? Maybe the Samsung name is what they care about and the Galaxy name will just come and go.

 

[Strk]

WP8 has an advertising campaign?

Yeah, they're emphasizing the live tiles and such. Personally, Apple or MS, I don't care, since I'm on prepaid and not interested in paying $500-650 for a phone.

 

[lothar]

I read it as against Samsung by hurting its branding. But then again we're just a bunch of nerds on a forum, who are we to know whether or not that's a good long term business strategy? Maybe the Samsung name is what they care about and the Galaxy name will just come and go.

Possibly.

It seems Apple has learnt from Samsung though.
An iPad Mini is no different from the Galaxy S3 Mini in terms of brand dilution if one thinks that way.

 

[podspi]

WP8 has an advertising campaign?

Pretty large, actually.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcFHDOrfi8Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuYoEaUJXvw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEsqsEFFVH4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9zhklbjw20


I find their advertising message to be very interesting.

 

[thecapsaicinkid]

I can't see how something can last as a status symbol when every 16yr old kid has one.

 

[Eug]

I can't see how something can last as a status symbol when every 16yr old kid has one.

If I had a 16 year-old kid, I wouldn't buy him a $700 iPhone. I wouldn't get him a car either.

He can have a cheap Android phone, and take the bus.

So, yeah, it's a status symbol... for 16 year old kids and many adults too.

 

[s44]

WP8 has an advertising campaign?

Heh, yes.

I really wonder whether that "you are stupid" ad actually works. Only other one I notice seeing is the Cam Newton ad.

 

[Shlong]

Macintosh --- iPhone
OS X --- iOS

Dell, HP, Lenovo, Acer --- Samsung, LG, HTC, Motorola
Windows --- Android

Future is somewhat easy to predict as history is repeating itself. There will always be a place for iOS and iPhone but the large majority of marketshare will be held by Android. Apple Closed Model vs Microsoft / Google Open Model.

 

[cheezy321]

I have no idea what you are smoking. Sounds like you are arguing with an imaginary friend. Who is "you guys" that made such statement?

This thread is about Apple as a status symbol. I said that Apple is the poor man's status symbol. It has been for years and will be for the next few.

Apple is a poor mans status symbol. Android is just used by a whole crapload of poor people.

 

[Wonderful Pork]

I wonder how long these crazy sales numbers are sustainable for not only Apple but all of the major players. At some point I have to believe the general public (not us geeks necessarily) is going to start holding onto these expensive phones for more than the minimum two year plan. I paid $300 for my iPhone, and while that won't break the bank it is still a decent amount of cash. I have an upgrade available to me, I could go out today and get a new iPhone 5, but I see no reason to. Maybe others are starting to feel the same way.

I agree with you, at some point the market is going to hit saturation, either because everybody has a smartphone or people no longer want to pay the (very) high cost of service each month (post-paid, US-only here, family plan too!).

However, I ALWAYS upgrade the second that I have one available, because my rate plan does not drop 1 penny once the subsidy is "repaid" so it makes sense for me to keep signing up for a 2 yr plan and make AT&T pay something instead of keeping it as pure profit. I'm sure many would see this as juvenile. I'm alright with that, especially since I sell my slightly used iOS device for 3/4 what I paid for it. Upgrading to a new flagship iOS phone for $25-$50 every 2 years is more than worth it for me. (I'm partial to iOS/Apple since I'm ingrained in the ecosystem)

If my rate plan dropped $10 or $20/month like T-Mobile is trying to move towards then I would treat my phone like my car - 10 years and 150k miles and not looking to upgrade unless there is something groundbreaking (or it gets totaled).

 

[khha4113]

The low lines was related to a new reservation system. The incorrect conclusion drawn from that was that it was the worst iPhone launch in China. So no need to contact any editors. They and you drew the wrong conclusions.

4 miilion 4S had been sold the first 3 days in China, and this time Iphone 5 was 2 million. It's not a failure but I wouldn't call it a success either!

 

[TuxDave]

4 miilion 4S had been sold the first 3 days in China, and this time Iphone 5 was 2 million. It's not a failure but I wouldn't call it a success either!

I may need you to go back that 4 million 4S sales in China number. I gave you the benefit of the doubt and tried to affirm those sales numbers on the 4S opening weekend sales in China and I couldn't find any. What you're saying would directly contradict:

“Customer response to iPhone 5 in China has been incredible, setting a new record with the best first weekend sales ever in China,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO.

So can you help me find some numbers showing 4 million iPhone 4S were sold opening weekend in China?

 

[khha4113]

I may need you to go back that 4 million 4S sales in China number. I gave you the benefit of the doubt and tried to affirm those sales numbers on the 4S opening weekend sales in China and I couldn't find any. What you're saying would directly contradict:

“Customer response to iPhone 5 in China has been incredible, setting a new record with the best first weekend sales ever in China,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO.

So can you help me find some numbers showing 4 million iPhone 4S were sold opening weekend in China?

It seems I made a mistake when I watched Bloomberg West this afternoon when they compared 4S and 5's launch sales. It would be 4S global sale figure.
http://www.bloomberg.com/video/once...e-else-can-you-go-0sL6U2iNS5aRRXE9BG~ZQg.html

 

[TuxDave]

It seems I made a mistake when I watched Bloomberg West this afternoon when they compared 4S and 5's launch sales. It would be 4S global sale figure.
http://www.bloomberg.com/video/once...e-else-can-you-go-0sL6U2iNS5aRRXE9BG~ZQg.html

Yeah when I googled iPhone 4S and 4 million that's what I hit over and over again. So getting 50% of the iPhone 4S global launch number ain't so shabby considering this is only China.

 

[Fire&Blood]

I agree with you, at some point the market is going to hit saturation, either because everybody has a smartphone or people no longer want to pay the (very) high cost of service each month (post-paid, US-only here, family plan too!).

However, I ALWAYS upgrade the second that I have one available, because my rate plan does not drop 1 penny once the subsidy is "repaid" so it makes sense for me to keep signing up for a 2 yr plan and make AT&T pay something instead of keeping it as pure profit. I'm sure many would see this as juvenile. I'm alright with that, especially since I sell my slightly used iOS device for 3/4 what I paid for it. Upgrading to a new flagship iOS phone for $25-$50 every 2 years is more than worth it for me. (I'm partial to iOS/Apple since I'm ingrained in the ecosystem)

If my rate plan dropped $10 or $20/month like T-Mobile is trying to move towards then I would treat my phone like my car - 10 years and 150k miles and not looking to upgrade unless there is something groundbreaking (or it gets totaled).

I also think it will drop but there are masses of potential featurephone to smartphone converts out there and the number kids that each year become new smartphone users shouldn't be ignored either. Majority of the cost is absorbed over contract duration so from the (shortsighted) consumer's point of view, spending extra $200 every 2 years, right around the holidays has become a tradition. Apple may not convince more consumers to upgrade after 12 months but after 24, even if the new model doesn't impress with design/features, it is in new condition, unlike the one average consumer has in his/her pocket. At the same time, subsidy and plan prices appear to be at it's limit, $299 and $5 more per month would aggravate the average consumer and crush the subsidy business model.

 

[Wonderful Pork]

I also think it will drop but there are masses of potential featurephone to smartphone converts out there and the number kids that each year become new smartphone users shouldn't be ignored either. Majority of the cost is absorbed over contract duration so from the (shortsighted) consumer's point of view, spending extra $200 every 2 years, right around the holidays has become a tradition. Apple may not convince more consumers to upgrade after 12 months but after 24, even if the new model doesn't impress with design/features, it is in new condition, unlike the one average consumer has in his/her pocket. At the same time, subsidy and plan prices appear to be at it's limit, $299 and $5 more per month would aggravate the average consumer and crush the subsidy business model.

I agree with you 100% about the featurephone conversions along with the younger generations moving into smartphones. My mom has decided she'd like an iPhone for Christmas, which is fantastic for her. I pay her bill, which is currently just $10/month add-a-line and she gets unlimited texts for free with the family plan. If (when) she gets the iPhone I'm out another $20/month for something she won't really use. So call me jaded about it.

I really want T-Mobile to succeed with the plan + subsidy, especially if its equivalent to the current plans. Buy just minutes + txts + data its $50/month, if you want an iPhone you can pay $600 up front or $200+$20/month. The bill equals the same as AT&T or VZW except after 2 years your plan drops to $50/month no questions asked! If you want a new phone, thats fine! its $20 (or whatever) per month extra!

Part of me hopes the public realizes they are getting a better deal this way, but the other part of me knows that they will hate the change in models and T-Mo will switch back to the status quo (or fold).

 

[TheStu]

I agree with you 100% about the featurephone conversions along with the younger generations moving into smartphones. My mom has decided she'd like an iPhone for Christmas, which is fantastic for her. I pay her bill, which is currently just $10/month add-a-line and she gets unlimited texts for free with the family plan. If (when) she gets the iPhone I'm out another $20/month for something she won't really use. So call me jaded about it.

I really want T-Mobile to succeed with the plan + subsidy, especially if its equivalent to the current plans. Buy just minutes + txts + data its $50/month, if you want an iPhone you can pay $600 up front or $200+$20/month. The bill equals the same as AT&T or VZW except after 2 years your plan drops to $50/month no questions asked! If you want a new phone, thats fine! its $20 (or whatever) per month extra!

Part of me hopes the public realizes they are getting a better deal this way, but the other part of me knows that they will hate the change in models and T-Mo will switch back to the status quo (or fold).

What is there to hate? They can still get the phone for cheap, only now it is more obvious that they are paying for it through their plan, and then, when they are done paying for it, they get a 'discount'.

I think the larger thing is to see if the other carriers adjust their stuff to follow suit. AT&T and Verizon have gotten filthy rich off of subsidies, text messages and data charges, how willing are they to change their business model if T-Mobile's thing start getting a lot of press?

 

[lopri]

wow.. I did not think people would become so dead serious when I posted in the first page of this thread! I so thought the thread was light-hearted topic.

A phone is a status symbol? A status symbol as what? Every "exotic dancer" that I know of have iPhones. Does that mean iPhone gives you a "hooker" status..? I hope not. I have one and my parents have theirs.

Get real, folks.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Shens.
Apple's launch of the iPhone 5 in China only had two people waiting in line.
The worst launch of any Apple product in history.

In Vietnam, you can buy an ip5 here and sell it for a huge profit there.

 

[ibex333]

Heh.. Off course the iPhone is done as a status symbol.. In fact the iPhone is dying! Apple is dying too! Oh noezzz! when just about every single person here in NYC on the train uses an iPhone.. when if you spit randomly walking down the street chances are you'll hit an iPhone owner... when the iPhone happens to have the most polished and refined Os of all phones out there.. When the iPhone's camera bets almost ever phone out there in quality, especially indoors and at night.. When it happens to be the phone with the largest amount of apps that keep on coming, no matter what the Android fanboys say... Yeah.. I'd say the iPhone is no longer a status symbol and no one cares about it anymore at all...