Marketing Strategy Of Apple Analysis Essay Example

Good marketing requires cannibalizing offerings to introduce superior products, as seen with Apple discontinuing the Mini pod in favor of the Anna pod. Additionally, Apple's phone potentially poses a threat to independent pod sales due to its similar music-playing capabilities. Instead of trying to cater to every customer, Apple focuses on making significant bets that differentiate their products from competitors, ensuring customers know what to expect from them. In contrast, Samsung boasts about being first in larger smartphones' market but Apple prioritizes research and development along with early market development rather than just being first. This allows Apple to introduce their own version that surpasses any competing product in design, applications, and services. Steve Jobs recognized early on the potential of portable music players and took a strategic approach to provide a superior alternative.During a two-year collaboration with record labels, he helped develop a user-friendly method for purchasing and listening to music on what eventually became the iPod. Contrary to popular belief, Apple was not the inventor of tablets. I personally witnessed this firsthand as Microsoft approached me in 1991 to provide advice on their initial pen-based tablet. In 2000, I also worked on Bill Gates' second attempt at a tablet. However, these early tablets had limitations and did not receive support from the software community due to the lack of advanced touch-based technology at that time.

Over the course of 20 years, Apple successfully integrated various components to create the iPad, resulting in a similar historical pattern where Samsung and Google faced dissatisfaction. Samsung's introduction of a larger phone played a significant role in paving the way for Apple despite facing initial resistance. Eventually, Apple

released models like iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus influenced by Samsung's Note device. Sales are expected to be predominantly dominated by iPhone 6 with a smaller percentage allocated for iPhone 6 Plus. However, there was strong initial demand for the latter model.

The entry of this premium competitor into the market will greatly impact Samsung's fortunes in the smartphone industry especially considering their significant profit losses during the last quarter in addition to indications that this trend will continue in current quarter as wellEstimations suggest that Apple is on track to sell about 63 million iPhone 6 and 6 Plus devices in Q, with a potential total sale of approximately 70 million phones, including their other successful phone models, during the holiday quarter. If this holds true, it will have a negative impact on Samsung during the same period.

In comparison to many IT companies, Apple takes a simpler approach with its product line. When comparing Apple's offerings to those of Microsoft or Sony, it becomes evident that Apple only has four pods, one cell phone, three notebooks, and three desktop computers. Conversely, Sony offers a wide range of similar products; this is also applicable for other companies like HP.

Each Apple product serves a specific purpose and provides options for all-in-one solutions as well as specialized products such as the Mac Pro for professionals. These examples represent just two of Apple's products; however, the same principles apply to their other offerings.

If we delve deeper into Apple's product lines, we will discover that they manufacture around 82 different models suitable for use in vehicles or handheld usage. Despite the significant number of designs available, there are no

major distinctions among these models except for substantial price variations.

This contrasts with Apple's strategy which focuses on consolidating technology into one or two models rather than creating numerous distinct ones. This enables Apple to generate higher profits by avoiding unnecessary expenses associated with multiple designs.When comparing Samsung's website to other brands in the cell phone industry, one can see that they offer a wide range of different models. On the other hand, Apple stands out by producing just one cell phone model that consistently receives technological advancements. This is an appealing aspect for many individuals who prefer iOS over Android and brands like Samsung. Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge that Android devices may not be suitable for everyone due to various factors.If you prefer Apple, your preference may depend on four factors: Security, device fragmentation, product creation principles, and user-friendliness. Android is often seen as less secure because stock devices lack protection against attacks. Although Google checks apps for malware on the Google Play store, threats can come from anywhere. Last year, 32.8 million Android devices were infected with malware. Apps developed for phones or tablets must go through rigorous testing but occasionally some slip through in the App Store. Apple has an advantage over Android in terms of device fragmentation and different software versions. They have a clean and virus-free marketplace compared to the tens of thousands of options available on Android running different operating system versions. Apple's success can be attributed to six key principles that make it challenging for competitors to rival them. Their unique approach involves having engineers who design products actually want and use them themselves; this principle was

upheld by Steve Jobs himself who viewed himself as the ultimate representation of the customer. Engineers had to personally connect with their designs to meet their own standards while also emphasizing user-friendliness alongside industrial design.
Apple prioritizes simplicity in both software and hardware engineering, understanding that most users prefer a streamlined experience. They offer straightforward options for phones, pads, and 'Pods to cater to consumers who are not technologically inclined. Apple also places emphasis on exceptional customer service and enjoyable in-store experiences. Rather than introducing entirely new product categories, they focus on enhancing existing ones such as PCs, MP3 players, smartphones, and tablets. The goal of Apple's design team, led by Jonathan Eve, is to create superior products.

To maintain a competitive edge over competitors, Apple assigns employees to simulated projects until their trustworthiness is established. This ensures excellence at least two years ahead of rivals. Employee work and privacy are highly valued by Apple as well. To ensure security within the company, employees may be required to complete fictitious assignments that serve two purposes: identifying possible leaks and promptly terminating those responsible. Once an employee has proven their trustworthiness through simulated projects, they are given real projects to work on. The interview process at Apple can last up to nine months with engineers potentially being assigned fake projects indefinitely even after that period.It is crucial to note that this misleading task distribution applies to both newly hired engineers and senior ones.