Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) stores will soon adopt a pilot program with the help of network carriers to boost iPhone sales, according to a report from 9to5 Mac. A new plan just a month or two before the iPhone 6 launch is not a co-incidence. CEO Tim Cook is in no mood to compromise with his target of selling iPhone 6, and that’s why he is supporting the carriers’ new plans. A new 4.4-inch iPhone is expected to roll over in September followed by a larger 5.5 inch model later this year.
Is this for Apple iPhone 6?
Using AT&T’s pilot program, users will be able to upgrade to a new phone every 12 to 18 months without any need of down payment upgrade fee, activation, or financing fee. Under AT&T’s plan, the price of the phone is spread into the monthly bills.
Mobile Network carrier T-Mobile offers its customers to upgrade to a new smartphone stretching the bill amount to the monthly bill under its JUMP program. Similarly, Verizon EDGE, also, allows paying the price of a new phone in their monthly bills during 20 months. Sprint also introduced a plan known as OneUp program. However, sources do not have any information that if Apple is supporting any of these programs.
Apple stores will carry a training program for this new program between August 10th and August 28, according to a report from 9to5 Mac. Additionally, the iPhone maker is also enhancing its Genius Bar customer service. Back in June, the customers were given the facility to buy an iPhone through official Apple stores on month to month and pre-paid plan basis. This will be the second significant action of the company this year to expand sales in the recent months.
Growing iPhone clout
Apple is acknowledging the challenge of selling the next generation iPhone, supposedly iPhone 6. Well, it seems like Apple iPhone is the most important object in the world as ever since it was first released in 2007, the device has almost taken over the company, totalling 57% of the revenue as on April, an increase from 2% in 2007.
Recent earnings of Apple reflect that the company is making hell lot of money selling iPhones. The company posted a profit of $7.75 billion, an increase of 12% from the previous year. Cash and Investment for the quarter came in at $164.5 billion. International sales totalled to 59% of its revenue.
