Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) the world’s most valuable company now commands a market cap greater than the combined market value of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) and Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), four of its peers in the tech world.
As of yesterday’s closing price Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) had a market cap of $256.78 billion, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) market cap was $221.48 billion, Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) market cap was $41.43B and Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) market cap was $111.26B. The total market value of all four comes to $630.95 Billion, which is lower to iPhone maker current value of $632.56 billion. This is really big and even bigger when we consider that Apple’s market cap in 1999 was only $9.29B. This is a huge achievement, when the other four all are profitable, established companies (except for Facebook). This observation was made by Kontra on Twitter and shared on Mactrast.
The Cupertino’s based company stock has been trading at all time high, thanks to the upcoming release of its long-awaited iPhone 5 and iOS 6 and also to the rumors of an iPad mini, which is expected to be announced sometime in September. The stock also jumped due to the landmark judgment of fining Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) for infringing Apple’s patents.
The iPhone maker now plans to purchase the iPhone 4S from users who want to buy the next generation iPhone, in an effort to boost demand for the iPhone 5. According to some of the reports, if a customer owns iPhone 4S and is willing to buy the upcoming iPhone, then Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) could purchase the older version from the customer by paying up to $345/£300, depending on its condition. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) will not be paying cash; instead will issue a gift certificate of the agreed price that could be redeemed against a new purchase from its online store.
IPad mini, which was speculated to be released in September, appears to be delayed, according to a report by Mizuho Securities. According to the report, the production of iPad Mini is progressing slower than the iPhone 5 The report presented by Charles Park, analyst at Mizuho Securities Ltd. Technology, who visited a number of companies in Taiwan.
