Apple (AAPL) continues to bring the iPhone to countries outside the U.S. Although its launch in China didn't generate as much fanfare as the company had hoped, things take time to roll into a big ball of success. Apple won't be slowing down international introductions of the handset that changed the wireless game, that's for sure.
As such, South Korea's own LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics are about to see their homeland assaulted by the official introduction of the iPhone for sale into that country. South Korea's KT Corp. and SK Telecom are the reported carriers for Apple's iPhone there, and although the South Korean market may seem like a small potato of opportunity for Apple, the company has been cleared by the Korean Communications Commission to start selling its popular handset.
Although Ramon Llamas with IDC states that "Apple will see only a small increase in shipments since it is a small market," both LG and Samsung should be concerned. Although both will undoubtedly come out with their own defensive handsets to protect their own domestic turf, Apple has had little trouble throttling most competitors in the touchscreen smartphone market. It's not just the phone -- it's the entire experience that Apple owns, provides and supports that makes it extremely hard to copy.
One thing Apple has going for it is the brand-conscious culture that permeates Korean society. Apple's entire existence revolves around slick marketing and brand infiltration, so this will work to its advantage there. There is still plenty to like in the iPhone, even after 30 months of existence (mostly in the U.S.) -- the global heat is just now starting to be turned on, and the flame will get hotter before it cools down.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-20-2009 @ 7:58PM
Beltway Greg said...
"Apple's entire existence revolves around slick marketing and brand infiltration." Brain you're on your game today. Let me help you. Apple creates stream of revenue from which others attempt to nibble around the margins. Brand infiltration suggests they respond to what others do and we both know nothing could be further from the truth. The marketing is slick? Actually it is everything but slick. The pitchman, Drew Barrymore's current/former flame, is a 20 something everyman who dresses like a TA at a small liberal arts college, speaks in a bemused manner and employs massive amounts of irony to create a relationship with the customer that is friendly and distinctly low-pressure mirroring the attitude of the salespeople at the stores. And BTW, I wish I was Drew Barrymore's current/former flame.