Verified Document

IPod Lifecycle At The Time Thesis

While Apple engaged in both stretching and filling during the growth stage in order to build the market, they now appear more concerned with warding off competitors. The success of the iPod has not only driven revenues directly, but has also had the desired effect of improving computer sales. Mac laptop sales have increased 51% in 2007 and 38% in 2008; desktop sales increased 12% in 2007 and 37% in 2008. At present, the iPod is unlikely to experience steep decline in the marketplace until it is eclipsed by new technology. The iPhone represents one such threat, but diffusion of that product will be at a slower pace than the iPod experienced, because of much more intense competition from cell phones and PDAs. However, iPods tend to last only a couple of years before consumers seek to upgrade to the latest iPod. Apple has continued to invest in R&D even for the core iPod, in order to keep the product relevant and drive these sales. The market may not grow, but Apple will continue to bring in repeat customers as long as they keep improving the product. Maturity in the market will likely reduce the average price of iPods and we will see other firms move into the market as Apple gradually loses its technological advantage. That Apple has tied the iPod in with its other products will help to combat this, however.

I feel that Apple managed the iPod extremely well. After a somewhat slow introduction, the product caught fire, at which time Apple made the right move by using a combination of stretching and filling to build the market....

Moreover, they have managed the iPod in such a way as to drive new business to their other product lines. I would have a difficult time recommending that Apple use a different approach to the life cycle management of the iPod, though from this point I think the next step is to make a radical change in the iPod's uses by integrating it with other products better, something we have already begun to see with the development of the iPhone.
Works Cited

Fried, Ian. (2001). Apple's iPod Spurs Mixed Reactions. CNet. Retrieved December 20, 2008 at http://news.cnet.com/Apples-iPod-spurs-mixed-reactions/2100-1040_3-274821.html

Belson, Ken. (2005). As the iPod Stays Hot, it Risks Losing its Cool. New York Times. Retrieved December 20, 2008 at http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/08/weekinreview/08belson.html

Poeter, Damon. (2008). Apple's Jobs Looks, Hypes Thin at iPod Launch Channel Web. Retrieved December 20, 2008 at http://www.crn.com/retail/210600644

Apple Computer 2008 Form 10-K. (2008). Retrieved December 20, 2008 at http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/IROL/10/107357/AAPL_10K_FY08.pdf

Fried, Ian. (2001). Apple's iPod Spurs Mixed Reactions. CNet.

Belson, Ken. (2005). As the iPod Stays Hot, it Risks Losing its Cool. New York Times.

Poeter, Damon. (2008). Apple's Jobs Looks, Hypes Thin at iPod Launch Channel Web.

Apple Computer 2008 Form 10-K.

Sources used in this document:
Works Cited

Fried, Ian. (2001). Apple's iPod Spurs Mixed Reactions. CNet. Retrieved December 20, 2008 at http://news.cnet.com/Apples-iPod-spurs-mixed-reactions/2100-1040_3-274821.html

Belson, Ken. (2005). As the iPod Stays Hot, it Risks Losing its Cool. New York Times. Retrieved December 20, 2008 at http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/08/weekinreview/08belson.html

Poeter, Damon. (2008). Apple's Jobs Looks, Hypes Thin at iPod Launch Channel Web. Retrieved December 20, 2008 at http://www.crn.com/retail/210600644

Apple Computer 2008 Form 10-K. (2008). Retrieved December 20, 2008 at http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/IROL/10/107357/AAPL_10K_FY08.pdf
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Apple Inc. Organization's Product Life Cycle Samsung,
Words: 1968 Length: 6 Document Type: Essay

Apple Inc. Organization's Product Life Cycle Samsung, Google, and Microsoft are the three predominant competitors for Apple Inc. These giant firms are fundamentally auspicious in making Apple Inc. lose its market share. They are utilizing price competition methodologies and more current and quick line expansions. The rivalry is exceptionally extreme because of current players and the presence of substitutes, which have the capacity to snatch ten percent of the market share

Successful Marketing Mix That Will
Words: 2900 Length: 10 Document Type: Term Paper

The development organizations of Microsoft and Salesforce.com are very comparable in this regard. Microsoft is like AMD specifically with their Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems. They are methodical, deliberate and will take years to eventually get all the integration with their own operating systems complete. Yet when Microsoft fulfills its product development vision for CRM, every other Microsoft application including Microsoft Outlook, Instant Messenger and all other personal productivity applications

Computers Have Changed Lives Opening
Words: 1285 Length: 4 Document Type: Term Paper

privacy. There's also the issue of speed and response that each of these devices imply and the expectations of those that are members of social networks, keeping mind these social networks could be the departments they work in for their jobs. Even the iPod has this speed of response inherent within it from having the continual stream of new songs copied onto it for use during commuting, working out and

Leadership Style and Characteristics Affect
Words: 5990 Length: 20 Document Type: Term Paper

Furthermore, there are a number of similarities and overlaps between such leadership theories that do not prevent their being characterized as transformational in nature. For example, "Most leaders behave in both transactional and transformational ways in different intensities and amounts; this is not an entirely either-or differentiation" (Miner, 2002 p. 743). One of the more interesting issues to emerge from the research is the need for transformational leaders to teach

Sales Promotion and Product Life
Words: 2775 Length: 10 Document Type: Term Paper

Much of the promotional campaigns throughout the introduction and growth periods were centered on this facility. According to different sources, the purpose of the promotion element was to promote "revolutionary communications and audio/visual experience" as an integrated experience. This would be the fundamental message in the introduction and growth promotions and the explanation for this is simple, being connected with something mentioned in the introduction: besides exceptional individual features, such

Innovation, Apple Has Managed to
Words: 2155 Length: 5 Document Type: Term Paper

Such a strategy would also help the firm to address its weaknesses while acting on its strengths. Some of Apple's strengths include an innovative cast of executives and a well-known brand. Its weaknesses include significantly high R&D costs in comparison to those of competitors. Competition from makers of similar products is one of the main threats the company faces. In regard to opportunities, Apple could seek to take advantage

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now