ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS

Environmental Analysis of Mobile Handset Industry (Apple iPhone in the U.S.)



Environmental Analysis of Mobile Handset Industry (Apple iPhone in the U.S.)

Introduction

Apple iPhone

IPhone is a smart phone introduced by the Apple Inc; it was the first after the Nokia to launch a smart phone in the newly developed industry of smart phones back in 2007. Apple has come up with iPhone 5, on September 21, 2012. It has many features including the virtual keyboard, multi-touch screening. Apple's iPhone has the capability of connection through the cell service provider as well as the Wi-Fi connectivity (Apple, 2012).

Apple, before releasing the iPhone which is its only smart phone product, apple was leading in the wide range of computers, iPods and software such as ITunes. IPhone taking the help of all what it can provide to its customers introduced the mobile phone facility along with all the functions that were related to the Apple products already (Apple, 2012). Many in the industry tried to replicate the products of Apple and tried to make products that function in somewhat the same way to that of Apple, but it is not an easy task to do. The iPhone, to many is considered to be the status symbol as Apple itself has created this perception in the minds of a user with the techniques of its price differentiation. Apple has this persistent strategy of selling at most two models at a time and at a high price than that of the average of competitor's product, this usually helps the research and development department of Apple to increase the excellence of the engineering process (Apple, 2012).

Taking the market share from the Apple is not easy for any of its competitors as Apple; especially iPhone owns a loyal customer base. This loyalty from the customers is achieved by the Apple through high quality offering and the persistency in the unique trends that Apple is famous for.

Market Overview

The cell phone industry is counted in one of the fastest growing industries around the globe after the growth of the internet. From the beginning, this industry has gone through a number of changes with respect to the trends and the technology used in its various sub categories. Cell phone industry with time has expanded, not in one region, but throughout the world. In 1994, the number of users within the United States was 24 million which has remarkably grown and increased to over 300 million mobile phone users (Cromer, 2010).

With newer technologies being introduced, the cell phone market is increasing with the same fast pace every passing day. In today's competitive world, the 24/7 connectivity is the need of every ordinary man. Everyone wants to make the most out of what the technology is offering. Another reason for the exponential expansion of this industry is that it has become a necessity more than just a want (Cromer, 2010). An employer needs to be in contact with his or her employees in order to improve the business while parents need to be ...