The next five years will see Apple smartphones out-selling Nokia devices and grabbing 40 per cent of the global market, according to analysts Generator Research.
"The iPhone and App Store will be developed in a similar manner to how Apple developed its digital music platform, which included the iPod and the iTunes Music Store," says Andrew Sheehy, head of research at Generator.
" Outsiders are rewriting the mobile industry's rulebook and the new rule is that you need a fully-integrated platform that has a rich API open to third party developers on favourable terms. Right now, Apple has the best platform and the best-looking forward roadmap."
Jobs has a mountain made of gold
Generator reckons that with cash reserves exceeding $25 billion (£17bn), 33% gross margins and the iPhone just about to enter its fastest-growth phase, Apple has the resources, competencies and motivation to invest just when more established players in the mobile industry are cutting back on product development.
The impact on some incumbent players could be substantial, with Nokia's share of the smartphone market falling from 40 per cent today to 20 per cent by 2013.
"We think that Apple will use its financial strength and revenue velocity to get one or more design cycles ahead of the competition," says Sheehy. "The result could see Apple shipping as many as 77 million iPhones in 2013, including a range of different models, each addressing different market segments."
Your comments (3) Click to add a new comment
techead
January 15th
3. Fatpuker, then the whole success of Apple is all just fantasy and Apple is not in fact a successful company on the road to domination of the phone market. I seem to remember hearing the same thing said before Apple introduced the iPod. You're just a naysayer.
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thefatpuker
January 14th
2. Wouldn't it be kind of prudent in this article to mention that Apple's a client of Generator Research?
http://www.generatorresearch.com/clients.php
Was this study paid for by Apple as part of Generator's consulting work? That's a pretty important question that could insinuate that "we are making this stuff up so that we make our client happy". At the very least, there may be bias in the report (which is a far sighted analysis based on current trends, I guess, without regard for potential new paradigms that may emerge in the next few years) in favour of the client (to make the client look good to potential new investors, purchasers of hardware and others who care about how Apple is right now). Then again, I don't know the contents of the report because I'm not paying $200 to read it.
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rttech82
January 14th
1. Wow, Sounds to me like Apple is staying ahead of the game for sure!
www.anonweb.pro.tc
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