What are the key elements of Apples strategy in computers, personal media players, and

smartphones?
The key elements of Apples strategy in their computer, personal media players, and smartphones
are unique styles, and features that attracts consumers due to appearance. Apple computers use
technology and programs that are unique and offers a limited numbers of computer models such
as:
Mobile communication and media devices
Personal computing products
Portable digital music players
Televisions Peripheral products networking solutions
Third-party hardware and software products
Mobile operating system
Mac operating system Server and application software
Brands:
iPhone

Image via CrunchBase

iPad
Mac
iPod
iTunes
Mac
App Store I Cloud
iOS
OS X
iLife
iWork Apple TV

Have its strategies in its core businesses yielded success? Explain.

When the Macintosh was introduced in 1984 the sales stared to decline due to a very strict
restrictions on the Apple certified Developer program, which made it difficult for the softwares
developers to obtain Macs at a discount and receive information material about the operating
system. Despite the setback, Apple in 1987 released a refurbished Macintosh computer that
proved to be a favorite in K-12 schools and with the graphic capabilities. In 1991, Apple released
its first-generation notebook computer, and in 1998 Apple introduced the limited featured iMac
as a result the company was profitable in every quarter during 1998 and 1999, and it shares price
reached in the upper $70 range.
Apples success in the personal media player industry was attributed to customer loyalty, brand
recognition and the continuously developing market leading to innovation of products and
product features. Although Apple didnt introduced the first portable digital music players, the
company held a 73% market share digital music players in 2010 and unfortunately the name iPod
has become a generic term due to low success on the market. However,, the iPods sleek styling
ease of use, and eventual price decreases allowed it to develop such high levels of customer
satisfaction and loyalty that rivals found it difficult to copy in the market place. A sample of this
innovation of products to meet Apples customer expectations and offer more unique features in
2010, Apple offered four basic styles in the iPod product line.
The iPod shuffle: a basic flash-based player with no screen, FM radio, 4 GB, storing up to 1000
songs, and up to 10 hours of playback time.
The iPod Mano: A multimedia player, 8GB, 8 hrs. of video or 2000 songs, 16GB, 16 hrs. of
video or 4000 songs. Photos/videos & up to 24 hrs. of music playback & 5hrs. of video playing.
The iPod Classic: a hard drive based click-wheel controlled multimedia player, 160GB,
Videos/Photos, up 40,000 songs or 200 hrs of video playback, 36hrs of audio playback or 6 hrs.
of video playback.
The iPod touch: a multimedia flash memory player controlled though an innovative touch
screen interface.32GB, 7000 songs, 10 hrs. of video, and 64GB, 14,000 songs, 80 hrs. of video &
provides up to 30 hrs. of music playback and 6hrs. of video playback.
However, one of the best moves Apple made was to customize iTunes to easily sync with the
iPod. By transforming iTunes from software tunes player to a full online music and video store.
In 2010, more than 50 million customers visited the iTunes Store to purchase and download
music, videos, movies, and television shows that could be played on iPods, iPhones, or Apple TV
devices. The success of the iPod/iTunes combination gave iTunes a 69% share of the U.S. digital
market in 2010.

Apple continued to make the phones better by creating the iPhone 3G, and iPhone 3GS and then
the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 sold more than 1.7 million units within three days of its launch.
Apples innovation strategy in Smartphones market was largely responsible for attractiveness of
the smartphone segment of the mobile phone industry. The growth in shipments of smartphone
during the first quarter of 2010 outpaced the growth in basic feature phone shipments by a
considerable margin. The shipments of smartphones grew by 56.7% during the first quarter of
2010, while shipments of basic phones only increased by 18.8% between the first quarter of 2009
and the first quarter of 2010. With the market for smartphones growing rapidly and supporting
high average selling prices, competition became more aggressive between competitors.
The U.S. Smartphone Platform Market Share Rankings on May 2010.
RIM (BlackBerry)
41.7%
Apple iPhone
24.4%
Microsoft windows
13.2%
Google Android
13.0%
Palm
4.8%
Others
2. 9%