Apple

By CIO New Zealand staff | Monday, November 10 2008

Apple continues to move forward with innovative new technologies such as the iPhone, which has racked up substantial global sales.

Global HQ: Cupertino, California, US
Website: www.apple.com
Global leader: Steve Jobs, CEO
Local leader: Tony King, MD, Australia and New Zealand
Core activity: Design and manufacture of personal computers and portable digital music players
Revenue: US$24 billion (FY07)
Key customers: AUT University, TVNZ, Telecom, ABC, MTV, North Sydney TAFE, Lincoln Public Schools (US), San Jose State University, AT&T (partner), Vodafone (partner)
Employees: 23,700


Apple continues to move forward with innovative new technologies such as the iPhone, which has racked up substantial global sales.

The iPhone phenomena has been fuelled by good design, as well as a long delay in cellphone giant Nokia’s release of competing technology. Apple is now competing strongly in consumer digital music devices, mobile phones and with its original Macintosh computer line. It also provides the iTunes music distribution service.

In the computer sector, Apple is unique in having its own hardware design and its own operating system (Mac OS), which provides considerable flexibility in product delivery and in ability to gain revenue from its systems.

Apple’s Macintosh line of computers includes desktop systems, notebooks and servers. Macs have always been particularly strong in corporate graphics departments and in advertising agencies. In the digital music arena the iPod devices, matched with the iTunes music service, have been backed by a successful brick and mortar retail strategy. The company continues to pursue innovative new products, including Apple TV, a set top box that is designed to provide content from a PC for high-definition television. A new service, iTunes Movie Rental, has been set up to service the television market.

Analysts, however, predict Apple may not be that immune to the economic slowdown. A ChangeWave Research poll conducted among US consumers in September showed more than half of the respondents will be spending 40 per cent less on consumer electronics in the next three months. “Apple is not immune to these problems,” according to Paul Carton, ChangeWave research director. “They may be able to handle them better than everyone else, but even Apple will take a hit.”

Even so, Carton and others remain bullish on Apple’s long-term prospects. “Once things stabilise, they’ll have an even larger share,” says Carton. Brian J. Dooley, with reporting from Gregg Keizer, Computerworld US