Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is expected to exploit the weaknesses in the Television market sometime in future. How soon that could be remains a very subjective discussion. Nonetheless, there are critics who believe Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is on course to launch the so called iTV sometime this year. However, this is not so for some few who think it could be more than one year before the iPhone maker finally launches the iTV.
Others are of the opinion that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) might actually never launch its own monitor for a TV. But what is Apple’s real opportunity in this market that seems to thrive despite its laid back status in the age of technological advancements? Well, that’s the question I attempt to address.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has not been entirely absent from the TV market, the company has been using Airplay to bring a different experience in TV by using its iPad capability to connect to its Set Top Box TV. This has enabled users to extend the iPad experience to a wider screen – something technology reviewers feel could be the defining moment for the next gen TV. The current crop of TV experience leaves a lot to be desired in terms of interface, and reviewers feel Apple’s Airplay makes a good basis for a cutting edge interface.
This gives the Silicon Valley company an excellent opportunity albeit a long standing obstacle. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has, since Steve Jobs era, been trying to woe cable TV companies without success. It remains to be seen whether these companies are ready to get out of their comfort zones and engage Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) in forging a partnership for the next gen TV experience.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) stands to boost its product line revenues if it gets successful in its iTV project. Actually, Apple’s real opportunity in the TV business exists not in selling the monitors themselves but using its iDevices to bolster TV experience.
In a recent article, I discussed Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s opportunity in software and services, which include streaming services through its top notch applications powered by iOS. The company has a slimmer window to exploit in the hardware market as price-based competition intensifies. The fact that its devices are premium priced compared to others in the market gives it little to no edge over its rivals in terms of pricing, even though, its devices have a reputation of durability and innovation.
A good example is the company’s dwindling global market share – especially in the emerging markets where pricing is of the essence as far as consumer preference is concerned. The company is currently working on widening its market share in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan; where it has engaged a number of carriers including China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom in guiding this agenda to fruition.
The company’s business in India is not as impressive, it is believed that Tim Cook ranks Apple’s opportunity in the Asian country down in the pecking order in terms of intermediate success. Meanwhile, Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) has launched its BlackBerry Z10 phones in the country on Monday, February 25, with a price of $800 per device – a price tag that is within Apple’s 16GB iPhone 5.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s challenge in the smartphone industry is also challenged by Samsung’s Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2, Nokia’s Lumia 920 and two HTC Corp models. The market is not getting any friendlier and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) must find a way of getting more cash from its product line, and that includes initiating a paradigm shift in TV experience. An App-based TV interface could be on the cards while Airplay is also set to play a big part in ensuring a successful transition from current TVs to a next gen TV. The iPhone and the iPad seem to have been fully replicated by rival companies, so all eyes are on Apple’s Next Big Thing.
