What Are the Chief Elements of Apple’s Overall Competitive Strategy?

Most iPhone users who have had previous Apple experience are richer than average, and are technically sophisticated. The iPhone’s major competitors in the U.S. are Android with a market share of 44%, RIM with market share of 24.2% (Albanesius, 2010), and Nokia with a market share of 8% (O'Brien, 2010) [Refer to Exhibits 3, 4, 5, and 6].

What does a competitive strength assessment reveal about Apple's computer business as compared to the leaders in personal computer industry? Use the methodology in Table 4.2 to support your answer. Does it appear that the company's competitive positions in the media players and smartphones are stronger or weaker than its position in computers? Table 4.1 is in Chapter 4, page 65; Table 4.2 is the SWOT analysis, page 71.

Since 1976 Apple’s innovation has helped the company become a market leader in computer and mobile electronics. Through this time the company has faced a number of challenges either it be an internal power struggles or criticism from the media for certain aspects of their business model. This report covers five different issues that the company is facing or may face in the future.

Technology change has naturally been a major factor in Apple's success. The company played a major role in the shift to a mobile computing society, by developing the personal technology devices that would

I learned that Apple is a juggernaut when it comes to their technological products and marketing goals. Apple focuses on the needs of customer’s light years ahead of their competition and even before most consumers have realized they want Apple’s products. Through their innovative marketing involving social media, word of mouth, Apple Stores they have convinced consumers about the high value of their product even lending to the formation of a “Mac cult” for its diehard fans. The way ahead for Apple is not to lose sight of its brand loyalty and continue to service the customers and entice them with the brand’s prestige. Even with the death of Steve Jobs, I believe Apple forge ahead to differentiate itself from the markets they are in.

Apple Inc. has been dedicated to innovation ever since the company was first formed. Apple's recent breakthroughs were a result of a new technologies convergence upon the "digital hub" strategy (Mortensen, 2010). This strategy has served Apple well; especially during the last few years. The iPad, iPod, and iPhone were all born from this strategy. Furthermore, producing these innovative, user friendly, and design oriented products has earned them a considerable amount of customer loyalty.

What does a competitive strength assessment reveal about Apple’s computer business, as compared to the leaders in the personal computer industry? Use the methodology in Table 4.2 to support your answer. Does it appear that the company’s competitive positions in personal media players and smartphones or stronger or weaker than its position in computers?

Apple Corporation was initially operating into the personal computer arena but later diversified into other segments. The change was brought by changes in management and differences in views that were coupled with missed opportunities resulting in loss of competitive advantages. The company currently operates in the music and personal computer industry as part of its initiative to continue providing innovative products for its customers. Despite venturing into different industries to enhance competitive advantages, the corporation is still confronted by intense opposition across all its business segments or industries. The aggressive competition is mainly because the markets for personal computers, mobile communication devices, consumer electronics, and digital music services are increasingly competitive. The competitiveness of these markets is also attributed to the rapid technological advancements that constantly increase the capabilities of these devices. In light of the increased competition, the Apple Corporation needs to develop and establish measures for sustaining competitive advantage with evolving external environment and executive succession.

Apple aims at delivering the best possible products to the customers by designing the software and hardware by their own to solve problems and is easy to use. Apple’s small retail and online stores provides a unique

2.What are the key elements of Apple’s strategy in computers, personal media players, and smartphones? Have its strategies in its core businesses yielded success? Explain.

iPhone marketing plan Market Summary The iPhone targets consumers who need to store information and communicate or pe ople who want entertainment on the go. Apples target segments consist of profess ionals, students, corporate users, entrepreneurs, and health care workers. Curre ntly, the market for high-end phones like the Apple iPhone is small. Few people want Internet, video, and PDA features in one device because of the high price. The smart phone market is still relatively small compared with general phone mar ket. The market will rapidly increase in coming years due to lower prices and gr eater power. SWOT Analysis Strengths Innovative – The iPhone has an innovative touch screen that is patented and unma tched by any other mobile product today. It also has many functions of other mob ile products all in one device. Compatibility –The phone will work with iTunes and with other Mac/Apple products like the new Apple TV, allowing for wireless connectivity to the big screen. Th e iPhone is also compatible with many Mac OS software tools. Mac OS compatibilit y means that the iPhone has limitless potential for upgradeability. Ease-of-Use – The all-new touch screen interface making operations extremely int uitive. It is radically different from those of other phones or PDAs that recogn izes multi finger gestures, just as the human hand normally behaves. The Mac OS X application imbedded into the iPhone assures users will easily recognize what they can do Brand awareness –

A description of what you believe to be the key marketing issue(s)/challenge(s) facing this Organization and Justification.

With Apple being so far ahead of their competition, the only problem one can foresee in Apple’s future is how long they can sustain such innovation before they plateau. Apple does a phenomenal job at releasing their innovative products before their competition, but if their innovation cannot hold steady, this may lead to changes in demand for their products considerably. This can be seen with their release of the iPhone, the first successful touch screen cellular phone. Although people swarmed to the iPhone when it was first released because of its advanced technology, as the years have passed, other similar designs, including those with android and windows based operating systems, have drawn a considerable portion of the market. A clear representation of Apple’s attempt to regain some of this market can be seen when the iPhone was released to Verizon Wireless’ customers in

Apple’s competitive advantage is it brand. According to Forbes, Apple is the World’s most valuable brand valued at $151B. It grew 6% last year. Apple has fans. Millions of people will buy whatever Apple sells. A bigger phone, that’s great innovation, they’ll buy it. A smaller phone, genius, sold. A knack for simplicity Apple has a brand for simplicity, making complex things simple. Before the iPhone, smartphones were complicated. Before the iPod buying digital music was a mess. Before the iPad tablets were cumbersome. Part of their secret sauce is integration. Apple

In 2007, Jobs invented the iPhone, a user friendly smart phone, which launched the smart phone market as we know it today. Until the emergences of other companies in the smart phone industry Apple monopolized the smart phone market. Although, other competitors are producing smart phones, Apple still continues to be successful when it comes to sales. For instance, Apple’s new iPhone 5S models sold more than 9 million units in their first weekend, and the company has earned praise for