Will the iPhone Cannibalize iPod Sales?

H

HardOCP News

[H] News
Joined
Dec 31, 1969
Messages
0
Will the iPhone cannibalize iPod sales? Analyst seem to be divided on the issue but it does seem unlikely that a $599 iPhone will eat into the iPod sales.

As the engine of iPhone hype gears up for its final power thrust, discussions about the new device range from how many units it will sell to how developers can cash in with widgets to how its iPod-like features might cannibalize iPod sales.
Click to expand...
 
I doubt it. More people can afford a plain jane ipod mp3 player than they can the phone. With the ipod phone theres only one model. With the the mp3 players, you have several types to choose from depending on what your needs/funds might be.
 
Here is my opinion which is probably wrong but...
I wouldn't really think so, at least not for new iPod owners. By now I would expect most people who really want an iPod would have already bought one with those being sold now either being people replacing old ones or people getting to the "what the hell, I might as well go ahead and buy one" point and just buying since everyone else has one and they could find themselves using it every now and then. Thus those rushing out to by an iPhone will probably be some of the same that already own a iPod and thus they would have both. Which wouldn't be a loss of a sale. I wouldn't really expect most people that haven't already purchased an iPod that really wanted one to by the iPhone instead. If nothing else just because of the cost, as why would somebody that really wanted an iPod not have gotten one already if it wasn't due to the cost as it is?

At worse it might effect some repeat buyers that might be wanting to replacing their older / broken iPods with a new iPod. Instead some with the extra money to do so, might instead opt to getting an iPhone instead.

However over all, I myself wouldn't really expect a HUGE number of possible iPod owners to decide to jump over the the iPhone instead of getting the iPod. So no, I don't really think that the iPhone would cannibalize the iPod sales.
 
Even as consumers purchase an iPhone "over" an iPod they are really making the same choice, simply for a higher end model "iPod". By Apple's own acknowledgement. the iPhone web ad describes the iPhone as a "widescreen iPod". Adding phone functionality and other features doesn't make the iPhone some different... something more, most certainly... but in the end, it is still an iPod.

The most important point is that Apple will undoubtedly sell more "iPods" (in the form of iPhones) -- hence iTunes content -- as a result of adding phone functionality to their iPod line.

Using myself as an example, I've never had the desire for an iPod (or any other portable Mp3 player), but I planning on purchasing an iPhone simply because it does so much in one device. I can easily see myself loading movies/TV (and likely music) onto the Phone. Being that I take my phone everywhere with me, it will be a very cool added bonus to have email, pictures, internet, GPS... and music... ALL on my phone. I mean, iPod.
 
no


most ipod sales are the cheaper models.


most people are under a contract on cell phones.
 
BlueF said:
Even as consumers purchase an iPhone "over" an iPod they are really making the same choice, simply for a higher end model "iPod". By Apple's own acknowledgement. the iPhone web ad describes the iPhone as a "widescreen iPod". Adding phone functionality and other features doesn't make the iPhone some different... something more, most certainly... but in the end, it is still an iPod.

The most important point is that Apple will undoubtedly sell more "iPods" (in the form of iPhones) -- hence iTunes content -- as a result of adding phone functionality to their iPod line.

Using myself as an example, I've never had the desire for an iPod (or any other portable Mp3 player), but I planning on purchasing an iPhone simply because it does so much in one device. I can easily see myself loading movies/TV (and likely music) onto the Phone. Being that I take my phone everywhere with me, it will be a very cool added bonus to have email, pictures, internet, GPS... and music... ALL on my phone. I mean, iPod.
Click to expand...


Oh, so my Motorola Q :) Been enjoying it for months, and it has MUCH faster internet than the Iphone does. I also get 99 channels of cable TV on it for $9 a month via MobiTV.
 
BlueF said:
Even as consumers purchase an iPhone "over" an iPod they are really making the same choice, simply for a higher end model "iPod". By Apple's own acknowledgement. the iPhone web ad describes the iPhone as a "widescreen iPod". Adding phone functionality and other features doesn't make the iPhone some different... something more, most certainly... but in the end, it is still an iPod.

The most important point is that Apple will undoubtedly sell more "iPods" (in the form of iPhones) -- hence iTunes content -- as a result of adding phone functionality to their iPod line.

Using myself as an example, I've never had the desire for an iPod (or any other portable Mp3 player), but I planning on purchasing an iPhone simply because it does so much in one device. I can easily see myself loading movies/TV (and likely music) onto the Phone. Being that I take my phone everywhere with me, it will be a very cool added bonus to have email, pictures, internet, GPS... and music... ALL on my phone. I mean, iPod.
Click to expand...



computerpro3 said:
Oh, so my Motorola Q :) Been enjoying it for months, and it has MUCH faster internet than the Iphone does. I also get 99 channels of cable TV on it for $9 a month via MobiTV.
Click to expand...

I've been listening to music, watching movies, checking e-mail, taking pictures/videos, browsing the web (unlimited), using Telenav/Garmin GPS applications, watching live TV all for over 2 years on my Sprint phone...So, let the iPhone sell better than the iPod. Neither will replace a really good multimedia phone.
And, the ones that buy the iPhone, will probably be the same people that buy a Blackberry or other PDA-Phone and use it for voice service only, but they'll still have there iTunes...or will they without a 2 Year contract?
 
Trip2way said:
I've been listening to music, watching movies, checking e-mail, taking pictures/videos, browsing the web (unlimited), using Telenav/Garmin GPS applications, watching live TV all for over 2 years on my Sprint phone...So, let the iPhone sell better than the iPod. Neither will replace a really good multimedia phone.
And, the ones that buy the iPhone, will probably be the same people that buy a Blackberry or other PDA-Phone and use it for voice service only, but they'll still have there iTunes...or will they without a 2 Year contract?
Click to expand...

I'm confused. All of that except for the GPS can be done on the iPhone? How is it not a "multimedia phone" in the truest sense? widescreen full length movies, music, "full" version browser w/ Wi-Fi and EDGE. Sorry, what you said just doesn't make sense to me :confused:

I agree that a large amount of people that buy the iPhone will be just using it for the iPod functionality and the voice/sms services though :p :rolleyes: I know I would, but I DO have use for the web and email on it...
 
I just don't get why you would pay new-technology prices for something that is so incredibly average compared to whats been on the market for the last couple of years. Because of the Apple logo?
 
computerpro3 said:
I just don't get why you would pay new-technology prices for something that is so incredibly average compared to whats been on the market for the last couple of years. Because of the Apple logo?
Click to expand...

I'm not gonna deny it: I'm a huge apple fan.

But even if I hated apple, there is no way I could deny that the interface on the iPhone looks second to none (I can't say is, because I haven't tried it yet) The seamlessness in it all just looks amazing, and The amount of features that are so well integrated into the phone and it's interface is amazing.

But I don't hate apple, and I own a Mac, and I know the iPhone will integrate seamlessly with that, so yet another reason for me to buy.

Also, you ARE paying for new technology. Please show me another phone that has multi touch, and a full featured browser. Show me another phone with that much memory built in. (4-8GB) Show me another phone with Cover Flow.

The proximity sensor detects when you lift iPhone to your ear and immediately turns off the display to save power and prevent inadvertent touches until iPhone is moved away.
Click to expand...
Show me another phone (touchscreen or not) that does this.
An ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the display’s brightness to the appropriate level for the current ambient light, thereby enhancing the user experience and saving power at the same time.
Click to expand...
There very well may be another phone that does this, but I haven't heard of it, so show me if there is.

Then show me a phone that can manage and display photos as well as this:
http://www.apple.com/iphone/phone/ (click photos on the far right then watch the video)

Honestly, it makes you look like an idiot when you say that the iPhone isn't new technology. I believe it is priced $100-$200 too high. But if it sells for that much, then so be it. Thats capitalism for ya.
 
I have over 120 gigs of mp3's so the 8 gig max just won't work for me.

Frankly, I want a smaller phone, not a larger one. These large phones/PDA's suck in my opinion and I just don't want to watch a movie on that size screen.
 
IMO the iPhone is a solution looking for a problem. For the average consumer, the touchscreen and photo capabilities won't matter. I'm a multimedia whore as much as the next technogeek, but I don't buy HDTV's or mobile phones because they can play movies or display pictures. Until the iPhone comes with storage and battery life comparable to my 80GB, I'd have no real reason to buy one.
 
The iphone will probably have the same crappy coverage as almost every new phone out there.

I use to use a Motorola MicroTac phone at work. It had the best coverage I've seen (heard). It wasn't very micro but it did what it was suppose to do. Make and receive calls. And guess what, people could actually hear what I was saying when I was talking. Imagine that. A cell phone where people can hear you. But no. We would rather have a cell with muliple features that are not used by most. People are attracted to shiny things I guess.
 
Maybe the high end ipod sales, not the low end nanos and such.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top