“Apple’s quarterly results smashed Wall Street expectations with record iPhone sales in the holiday season and a 70 percent rise in China, powering the company to the largest profit in corporate history,” Adam Jourdan reports for Reuters. “Its result in China, as well as other emerging markets such as Brazil, marks a riposte to critics who questioned the firm’s strategy a year ago not to launch a cheaper phone to lure cost-conscious buyers from Xiaomi and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd.”
“Apple plans to roll out around 20 new China stores by 2016, likely located in glitzy locations and rubbing shoulders with outlets for luxury brands such as Chanel and Hermes International SCA,” Jourdan reports. “For Apple, brick-and-mortar stores help it maintain a premium image, from the product to in-store service and even packaging, allowing the firm to charge far higher prices than rivals – vital to its enviable profit margins.”
“Apple’s quarterly leap may be hard to replicate, with the launch of large-screen iPhones and a tie-up with telecoms operator China Mobile Ltd in late 2013 lifting last year’s numbers,” Jourdan reports. “‘People had been waiting for large-screen iPhones for a long time. The demand had piled up and Apple hadn’t been able to meet it,’ said Nicole Peng, research director for Canalys in China. Canalys data showed Apple outsold all other smartphone makers in China by units shipped in October-December 2014, making it the country’s top seller for the first time.”
Read more in the full article here.
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Duh!
I also think many people had just got sick of Android, and a lot would have moved regardless of the size of the iPhone 6. This is not to say a bigger screen size wasn’t a big factor, but I for one would have bought an iPhone irrespective of size if there was no option.
And all Apple’s loyal customers waited for Apple to get it right- key word : Waited
DUDE!! MDN!!!!! STOP WITH THE AUTO DIRECT!!!! SO F-ING INCONSIDERATE!!!!!!
Well, if people have been waiting for the iPhone 6 before buying, then that can be seen as good news for Apple Pay.
I think iPhone sales will remain high now that the influenced-by-image public sees the iPhone as the must have phone.
Sorry Samsung.
Now there’s no reason not to add call feature to iPad. It would boost sales of the more expensive versions of the iPad