Loopy numbers from Counterpoint Analysis, South Korea’s open for Apple Pay, and the Kremlin has it out for iPhone.
Report: Premium Smartphones Owned 2022 (and Apple Owned Premium Smartphones)
Two loopy information factors from Counterpoint Analysis: No. 1 — Gross sales of premium smartphones (that’s telephones costing $600 or extra) made up greater than half of worldwide smartphone income in 2022. No. 2 — Apple’s share of worldwide premium smartphones in 2022 was 75%.
On the primary level: Counterpoint says premium smartphone gross sales climbed 1% in 2022, although smartphones as a complete dropped 12%. It feels like a complete haves and have-nots factor. Quoting Counterpoint:
Regardless of the robust market circumstances in 2022, prosperous customers have been extra resistant to the macroeconomic difficulties than prospects from the decrease finish. Consequently, gross sales within the premium market grew, whereas these within the entry and mid-tier segments declined.
In equity, that’s solely a part of the equation. Counterpoint argues that extra patrons who can are keen to spend extra on premium fashions. That’s partly as a result of extra central function smartphones play in folks’s lives and partly attributable to understanding they will maintain on to premium telephones for an extended stretch. The best way the agency sees it, that type of considering “is among the causes the $1,000 and above value phase was the quickest rising (38% YoY) in 2022.”
Focusing in on Apple — Gross sales of iPhone fashions over $600 grew 6% in Counterpoint’s estimation. That gave the Cupertino-company three-quarters of the world’s premium smartphone share. When is that determine a miserable one? When one considers what may need been. “Apple may have grown extra,” notes Counterpoint, “if not for the iPhone 14 Professional and Professional Max provide disruption throughout the peak vacation season in 2022.”
iPhone’s dominance of the premium house appears unlikely to offer approach any time quickly. “The stickiness of the iOS ecosystem” plus “Apple’s aspirational model worth and step-by-step enlargement” are prone to stand it in good stead. That mentioned, Counterpoint thinks iPhone could cede some floor this yr with premium, foldable Android telephones anticipated in 2023.
Report: Apple Pay Goes Stay in South Korea
An occasion 5 – 6 years within the making. After a plan that reportedly started in 2017, a chunk from MacRumors says Apple Pay has lastly gone dwell in South Korea.
In equity to Apple, the corporate moved pretty rapidly as soon as it was allowed to maneuver in any respect. In line with the report, the Cupertino-company:
…was unable to be registered as an digital monetary enterprise operator as a result of regulators have been investigating whether or not Apple Pay violated native laws and legal guidelines.
That hurdle was cleared within the early a part of February, and now — right here we’re. Or, there they’re.
The query now: Will Apple Pay adoption open a flood or a trickle? A variety of reviews, together with one from The Korea Occasions, level to an absence of NFC in point-of-sale terminals. In line with that report:
…the service nonetheless faces important challenges in Korea as a result of restricted variety of shops geared up with NFC terminals. Presently, under ten p.c of the bank card member shops in Korea are geared up with the required infrastructure…
That mentioned, we could need to test again in a couple of weeks. The identical piece from The Korea Occasions says:
A number of main retailers in Korea, together with comfort shops and supermarkets similar to Lotte Mart, Homeplus, and Costco, have already ready to undertake the brand new Apple Pay service. Moreover, some department shops and low chains, similar to Ediya and Mega Espresso, are reportedly within the means of getting ready to undertake the NFC terminals.
Etymology and Kremlinology: Russia Tells Govt. Officers to Ditch iPhones/Smartphones
One wonders whether or not “iPhone” is like “Xerox” or “Kleenex” in Russia. Has the usage of the time period “iPhone” changed the time period “smartphone” the best way “Xerox” has changed “photocopy” or “Kleenex” has changed “tissue?”
9to5Mac ran a chunk Monday, the headline of which mentioned (partly), “Russia bans officers from utilizing iPhones.” That cites a Reuters report, which cites a report from the Russian paper Kommersant. Apparently, the priority is the 2024 presidential election (the one in Russia) and worries about spying (in Russia). In line with Reuters, the directive comes “due to issues that the gadgets are weak to Western intelligence companies.”
Mr. Kettle, I’ve Mr. Pot on line two…
To my query about iPhone and Xerox and Kleenex (oh, my!), the piece has an unnamed Russian official saying, “It’s throughout for the iPhone: both throw it away or give it to the kids…”
Disposable — apparently one thing else iPhone and Kleenex have in widespread in Russia. As for the extra thorough of the bunch, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted within the piece saying:
Smartphones shouldn’t be used for official enterprise. Any smartphone has a reasonably clear mechanism, it doesn’t matter what working system it has – Android or iOS. Naturally, they don’t seem to be used for official functions.
Or gained’t be. MacRumors says affected people have till April 1 to ditch their smartphones.
Apple and Hey Sunshine Nab Rights to Novel ‘Perhaps Subsequent Time’
Apple TV+ and Reese Witherspoon’s Hey Sunshine appear to have one other manufacturing within the works. Deadline says the 2 have gained in competitors for the rights to the newest e-book from Cesca Main, Perhaps Subsequent Time.
When you’ve not heard of it, don’t really feel too dangerous. The piece says the e-book was printed two-weeks in the past immediately right here within the states. It comes out within the U.Ok. in a little bit over every week. As for what it’s about, Deadline says:
There’s a Groundhog Day component to this one, as a lady relives the identical day over, making an attempt to maintain her household and profession from imploding as she makes an attempt to avoid wasting her husband’s life.
Because it stands now, this shall be a one-shot for Apple and Hey Sunshine. Whereas Witherspoon’s manufacturing firm has guided such Apple TV+ collection as “The Final Factor He Informed Me,” “My Form of Nation,” “Reality Be Informed,” and “The Morning Present,” Deadline says Perhaps Subsequent Timeis being “developed as an Apple Unique Movie from Apple Studios…”
For Sale: 10-12 months Apple Plaque Signed by Steve Jobs
And at last immediately, one other piece of Apple historical past is up on the market — obtainable at a buy-it-now value. 9to5Mac says “an award plaque signed by [Steve] Jobs and offered to an Apple worker in 2000” is up for buy.
In line with the location, the “uncommon items web site Moments in Time” is promoting the plaque. 9to5Mac says what’s being provided:
…is a 10-year award plaque offered by Apple to former advertising and marketing government Suzanne Lindbergh in 2000. It features a particular notice celebrating the 10-year anniversary milestone, with an precise Steve Jobs autograph on the backside.
Jobs was notoriously stingy together with his signature, which is what makes this plaque each uncommon and dear. Whereas Moments in Time says the value is simply obtainable on request, it appears TMZ did ask, and so they don’t thoughts sharing.
$95,000 is the reported value. However hey — no by accident paying greater than that within the warmth of bidding battle.
At this time on The Mac Observer’s Day by day Observations Podcast
TMO Managing editor Jeff Butts and I’ll go a bit deeper in these Counterpoint smartphone numbers — Plus a little bit bit extra on the Kremlin’s smartphone ban. That’s all immediately on the Day by day Observations Podcast from The Mac Observer.
