iPhones Too Pricey For Budget-Minded European Markets
iPhones Too Pricey For Budget-Minded European Markets
Posted 12/22/2011 at 12:21pm
| by Brad Chacos
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There’s no way around it: iPhones sell like gangbusters in the U.S. Even children are chomping at the bit to get in on the Siri action. Speaking of Siri, sales of the iPhone have skyrocketed on the back of the talking wonder bot – but not in Europe. Sure, the iPhone’s doing good is Britain, but analysts are reporting that sales are slumping on the mainland, even after the launch of the 4S. Why? Because it’s so darned expensive.
The European economy has been staggering and breathing heavy the past few months, and ComTech told Reuters that “increasing signs of pricing sensitivity” could be the reason Apple lost nearly a third of its French market share in the past year. Apple saw similar losses in Germany, Italy and Spain as European buyers started tightening belts amidst talk of government cuts, unemployment hikes and “austerity measures.”
Apple’s loss is Google’s gain: Android handsets account for between 46 and 61 percent of the European market, depending on the country you’re talking about. (Although the number of Android phones admittedly far exceed the number of iPhones available.) A logical person could conclude that most of those would be lower-end models, given consumers’ price-related reluctance to buy an iPhone. But in at least one market, that logical person would be wrong: ComTech says that the Samsung Galaxy S II is the best-selling phone in Germany.
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jedisamurai
December 22, 2011 at 2:58pm
As usual I agree with Holly. Apple products may be spiffy and trendy....but they are TOO DARN EXPENSIVE.
Holly Golightly
December 22, 2011 at 12:41pm
Damn straight! Their prices are just too damn expensive and not well worth it. There is nothing truly new in the 4S that the 4 couldn't do. Other than Siri I guess... The problem is, Americans are too obsessed with the iPhone. That money could be used for more useful things like food and clothes. The economy sucks, and we need to be more froogle about our shopping. Those Europeans are pretty darn smart. Especially in Germany.
someone87
December 22, 2011 at 2:37pm
+1 to the Germans being smart.
The best engineering comes out of Germany.
They make the best cars, (love my V12 BMW), best guns (can't seem to buy enough Sig or HK weapons) and are great business men.
Love them Germans.....
Holly Golightly
December 22, 2011 at 2:41pm
Yes, they are brilliant people. They are also very efficient when it comes to their products. I do like the German culture. I still love the Russian culture. Not for their cars or guns... I just like their social ways. Drink with friends and family, everyone is happy. Such a simple life. Of course, not all Russians and Germans are the same, but they have a damn good culture. I will give them that. :o)
someone87
December 22, 2011 at 2:50pm
Yep, they are the best. Perfect as it gets.
In 5 years ish (+ or - 2 years) my goal is to work with the Germans in designing, and testing weapons. (rifles and pistols)
If my business takes off alike I hope, I should have enough capitol.......
knipfty
December 22, 2011 at 1:31pm
I have food and clothes. I wanted and got an iPhone 4S.
Improvements
- Siri
- 64 MB storage
- Better antena
- Dual Processor
- Better camera
Holly Golightly
December 22, 2011 at 2:37pm
MB or GB?
Not everybody is a billionaire like Madoff. The locked iPhone 4S 64GB model runs for $400 on Verizon with a 2 year contract. Can you imagine buying the unlocked version of that phone for $850? Yeah, totally not worth spending like an idiot.
Don't forget the iPhone runs under that slow, crappy 3G connection of yours. Dual Core? Man, that sounds old school. I would rather get a quadcore tablet any day for $500. Better antenna? Man... What a crappy antenna the original one had. Am I right? You probably paid a premium for that one too. Yeah, spend all of your money on a slow, yet outdated cellphone. Don't you know that bigger is better? Well, you just flushed your money down the iToilet, and nobody cares. Ha!
Goodluck staying with the same crappy cellphone for 2 years. Of course, you could still buy the iPhone 5 next year for more than $800 out of contract.
Ghok
December 22, 2011 at 6:51pm
"Not everybody is a billionaire like Madoff."
Bernie Madoff is in jail. He also has nothing to do with how expensive iPhones are.
When this is how you open an argument, it's a little hard to take the rest of what you say seriously.
Holly Golightly
December 22, 2011 at 7:03pm
Well the image in Europe is... If you own an iPhone, you are rich. In America, a rich person is a person who has a yearly sallary worth over one billion dollars. You know, the top 1% that control 53% of the world's money. This is how iPhones are advertised in Europe. Especially in Russia. I just think people who are willing to pay $850 for an iPhone locked to a slow 3G connection is a fool. The specs inside are already outdated. The only thing it has going for itself is the retina display.
M3g4d37h
December 22, 2011 at 4:29pm
Go enjoy your Ballmer and Sergey. Not an original thought there, ever. And I don't need luck -- Good planning and a FRUGAL nature does not equate with being an anti-fanboy.
Really, some of you folks just sound like a bunch of effing retards with this hate.
jth
December 22, 2011 at 1:31pm
Oh look, it's Holly on yet another irrational hate-everything-about-Apple-for-no-reason-at-all tyrade. You do know you're talking about spending money on things like food and clothing over a gadget on a tech enthusiast website, right? I know it's just a sad attempt to sound reasonable for once, but I'm just saying...
Holly Golightly
December 22, 2011 at 2:44pm
You know you are blabbering about iProdu¢ts on a PC site. You didn't expect for anyone to agree with your love for Ma¢s now didn't you? There is always MacLife for all your Apple love, and then some. Just saying...
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