Summary
On January 10, 2007, Apple unveiled the iPhone, a new smartphone that combines a music player, camera, web browser, e-mail and phone in a single device. The iPhone is unique not because it offers anything fundamentally new, but because it brings together almost all of the currently separate portable consumer gadgets into a single well designed package driven by a powerful and intuitive interface. The big question, and the topic of an article I recently read in the Wall Street Journal, is whether the iPhone will have trouble attracting customers due to the high price tag. Granted, Apple has a large and loyal fan base that can be counted on to rush out and buy almost anything the company produces. That said, Apple has produced a few lemons (e.g. Macintosh Cube, Newton) that even its own fanatics won't buy.
Company
Apple's recent decision to drop the "Computers" from its corporate name reflects its increasing focus on the entire consumer electronic experience. Apple's legacy still remains with the design, manufacturing and marketing of personal computers and related software. However, in recent years the company has branched out into portable digital music players (iPod) and related accessories, online services (iTunes Store, iTV), video creation software (iMovie), educational products (MacBook) and more recently, mobile phones (iPhone).
Customers
Almost 1 billion cellphones were sold worldwide in 2006. About 60% of mobile phone users in the US and Europe are unwilling to pay for anything extra other than basic voice and texting. Of the remaining 40%, about a third are communication enthusiasts (sales people) who are willing to pay for advanced phone features that help them communica ...