Apple today announced the iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition
. (RED) was created by U2 lead singer, Bono and Bobby Shriver to engage business in the fight against AIDS in Africa by getting the world’s most iconic companies to make uniquely branded products. A portion of the profits from these products goes directly to the Global Fund to fund programs for women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa. The iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition
comes in a beautiful red aluminum enclosure and features 24 hours of battery life, Apple’s innovative Click Wheel and an incredibly thin and light design. Apple will contribute $10 from the sale of each iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition
to the Global Fund to help fight HIV/AIDS in Africa. Apple will also offer a $25 iTunes (PRODUCT) RED gift card available for purchase at Apple’s retail and online stores next month.
“We’re ecstatic that Apple is giving their customers the choice to buy a red iPod nano and help women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa,” said Bono, co-founder of (RED) in the press release. “It’s wonderful to see this incredible level of commitment from companies that are willing to lend their creativity in the fight against AIDS in Africa, the greatest health crisis in 600 years.”
“Now customers can buy the best music player in the world and do something to help the world at the same time,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO in the press release. “We’re honored to work with Bono, (RED) and this team to contribute to an incredibly important initiative and help change the way people think about AIDS in Africa.”
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria was established in 2002, with the support of the world’s leaders and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, to dramatically increase resources to fight three of the world’s most devastating diseases, and to direct those resources to areas of greatest need by supporting locally-driven strategies. To date, the Global Fund has committed $5.2 billion (US) to more than 363 programs in 131 countries. For more information about (RED) please visit http://www.joinred.com
The iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition is available worldwide in a 4GB model for US$199. All iPod nano models include redesigned earbud headphones providing superior comfort, fit and sound quality, and a USB 2.0 cable. The second generation iPod nano features up to 24 hours of battery life and completely skip-free playback. The iTunes (PRODUCT) RED gift card will be available through Apple’s retail stores and the Apple Store next month for $25 (US).
iPod nano requires a Mac with a USB 2.0 port and Mac OS X version 10.3.9 or later and iTunes 7.0 or later; or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows 2000 (Service Pack 4), Windows XP Home or Professional (Service Pack 2) and iTunes 7.0 or later. Internet access is required and a broadband connection is recommended.
See Apple’s new iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition here.
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Steve Jobs, Bono confirm ‘Product Red’ Apple iPod nano, iTunes ‘Red’ gift card – October 12, 2006
Oprah and Bono to unveil Product Red iPod nano tomorrow [UPDATED] – October 12, 2006
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Red Apple iPod coming soon? – January 27, 2006
so sexy!
all this funny style of doing things… Doesn’t it seem as though someone else is dictating terms to SJ?
10 bucks? That’s it? Apple is making a killing on these already, and all they can donate is 10 bucks of one color??
Yer lettin’ me down, apple!
Looks cool
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Great work Apple.
Now we need red iMac + MacBook
And no Ferrari logos please.
No J, your’re wrong. Steve Jobs must see 50 propositions a day… if there is one thing he must be really good at it’s saying “no thanks”. One in a million getting through says he’s the one dictating what sees the light of day.
Besides, are you suggesting that the Product red Nano is not a good idea?
For my money it is cooler than cool. I’m really glad it was done with the Nano and not the full size iPod.
setnago,
Apple doesn’t have to donate anything and they’d still sell millions of iPods regardless.
You will note that they have not jacked the price up $10 – the $10 per unit comes straight from Apple’s profits.
Apple is a great company!
What, no RED Zune or RED XBox?
Apple has its heart in the right place, but AIDS will continue to be a problem in Africa as long as most diseases are classified as “AIDS”. Yup, it’s a dirty little secret that’s been around for years as a way of ginning up more money for governments and aid agencies in the region.
OMG! “BustingTheSkullsOfIdiots”! You have seen through the conspiracy! Now we´ll have to kill you!
(moron)
10 $ is peanuts!
Shame shame shame
good work apple.
I was thinking about…brown! Great idea! Everyone loves brown! Wudjathink?
I know it’s for a good cause and all but my god that thing is FUGLY.
I can’t believe those of you who are critical of Apple for “only” donating $10 per sale to the charity. They don’t have to donate anything to charity. So the fact that they are shows they are very generous. A previous poster pointed out that that likely comes right out of their profits on the Nano sales.
I’m diggin the red, and thinkin it should be a permanent option.
Good work Apple.
Donate more per…
@C: You’re right that they are very generous. These days charity looks like a marketing campaign though. :s
Cancelled shuffle order and bought this. It is very sexy.
MDN word is fittingly “progress”
It’s all tied to the movie “Reds” finally coming out on DVD.
CFO: “the $10 per unit comes straight from Apple’s profits.”
– Well, it’s a little more complicated than that. The amount of advertising that it would take to generate the type of exporsure that Oprah herself will provide for this product would probably cost more than the total amount that Apple is going to donate. So this donation can nicely fall into the marketing expense category instead of coming directly from the gross margin. So this isn’t exactly coming directly from Apple’s profits.
With that said, however, it is still money being used for a good cause, and it would be nice if more companies did something similar.
A great idea and a great looking product. Of course, Apple will NOT be selling these through their dealer network. So sad as not every city/county/country has Apple stores.
Red at noon
You got me a Zune?
Red at midnight (secretly traded that Zune POS for an iPod)
All is right.
I’ll voluntarily surrender my poetic license pending a full investigation.
It needs red ear buds.
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,19609-2260652,00.html
Will they sell it at Target??
I love the idea of “Product Red” and agree wholeheartedly with helping everybody who has HIV/Aids.
However, what I don’t understand is why seemingly all the $$ attention goes only (and always) to ‘women and children’? Do men not get infected and affected by HIV/AIDS as well? Do we continue to hold to the old stereotypes that women and children are totally helpless and can’t do anything for themselves while men don’t ever need any help at all? Do we continue to view women only as ‘victims’ and not as self-motivated intelligent people who don’t NEED to depend on others for their well being?
We don’t live in Lake Woebegone do we? Shouldn’t we be concerned with assisting anyone who needs help and ignore gender as being part of the equation?
just my 2 cents.