e"}

Get Better Gear!

Premier Sponsors

Other World Computing

TechRestore

Top 5 Free Apps

Release Date: August 05, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: May 22, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: August 29, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: March 27, 2009
Release Date: August 07, 2009

iTunes New Music Releases

Release Date: September 29, 2009
Genre: Rock
Release Date: September 20, 2009
Release Date: September 15, 2009
Release Date: August 25, 2009
Genre: Rock
Release Date: August 25, 2009

Top 5 Paid Apps

Release Date: April 22, 2009
StickWars $0.99
Release Date: March 31, 2009
Genre: Games
Bloons $0.99
Release Date: April 05, 2009
Genre: Games

Discover New Music

  • How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb

    • 6 out of 10
    • U2
    • U2's latest entry is a mostly underwhelming collection of songs that does very little to sound any different from its equally pedestrian predecessor, 2000's "All That You Can't Leave Behind." While

  • Stadium Arcadium

    • 8 out of 10
    • Red Hot Chili Peppers
    • What? Only four stars, you stingy bastard? I'm asking myself the same question, so let me explain myself to myself... If I compare the new

  • Gimme Fiction

    • 10 out of 10
    • Spoon
    • Gimme Fiction by Spoon is a terrific album by an Austin band that I was lucky enough to catch on an Austin radio station during a Christmas visit.

  • Modern Lovers

    • 10 out of 10
    • Modern Lovers
    • This timeless masterpiece is little known, but it has inspired almost as many bands as The Modern Lovers' own inspiration -- and only slightly better known -- The Velvet Underground & Nico.

  • The Printz

    • 8 out of 10
    • Bumblebeez 81
    • Part white rap, part alternative, part pop, and part rock, the Bumblebeez grabbed a hold of me with "Pony Ride," and didn't let go.

      This group does a marvelous job of moving seamlessly be

Reader Specials

Visit Deals On The Web for the best deals on all consumer electronics, iPods, and more!

News

Forbes: Sizing Up the Global iPhone Prospects

Apple’s iPhone prospects in the rest of the world depend on many factors, local laws, the willingness of the carrier to deal with Apple, and the relative popularity of Apple as a brand in that country, according to Forbes on Friday.

With France, Germany and the UK now under Apple’s belt, many are asking about what might be in store for the rest of the world.

Elizabeth Woyke wrote that one of the biggest factors is how willing the local carriers are to engage in Apple’s shared revenue model, more generous to Apple than is typical in the industry. That, in turn, suggests that Apple needs to be viewed favorably by potential local customers in order to bring the carrier around. One of those countries where the Mac is especially popular is the Netherlands. Apple also needs to size up the local laws regarding locked phones in order to provide a smooth introduction.

"If Apple is running into any impediments, it’s probably on the business side, making deals with operators," said Charles Golvin, an analyst with Forrester Research. "As it looks abroad, Apple needs to do much more lengthy negotiations than its peers do."

Another approach Apple can take is to look at iTunes usage in order to gauge local enthusiasm.

Apple’s typical sales goals would also suggest China and India. D.P. Venkatesh, chief executive of mPortal, a mobile software manufacturer thinks that the potential market in India is only 25 million however. That’s because India has a per capita income less than US$1,000 and only a few percent of the population can afford an iPhone. China’s Mobile Ltd. revealed in November that it is in talks with Apple.

Mr. Venkatesh thinks that Australia, Brazil and Russia are good markets for Apple. In addition, the healthy disposable incomes in the UAE and Dubai make them attractive. Hong Kong and Singapore are considered very "gadget-savvy."

Finally, Apple has to address the technical standards. A 3G iPhone has been in the news recently, and that bodes well for Italy, Sweden, and Portugal. "World domination isn’t here yet. But Apple’s persistence and marketing muscle mean the sun may never set on the iPhone--some day soon," Ms. Woyke concluded.

Post Your Comments

  Remember Me  Forgot your password?

Not a member? Register now. You can post comments without logging in, but they'll show up as a "guest" post.

Commenting is not available in this section entry.