Apple does not really have a monopoly. Rather it functions off the mainline of mobile device (i.e. it's not Android-based) & content platform competition. It has been very successful in comamnding a premium (halo effect?) for its devices and content and growing unit volumes for their LOBs - but I think their ability to do both in the future is extremely questionable.
a) Most countries (certainly Western and many of those the Global South) are operating in an infalationary environment. This is signfiicant in tending to reduce the price premium that can be realized as well as motivating content piracy.
b) It is facing supply chain challenges in China and it's not immediately obvious how they will abate.
c) China is an enormously-important market for them and their competitive position there seems likely to slip for various reasons (which I will only bore you with should you request an account of them).
Microsoft and Google would appear to be in the strongest positions, IMO. But even the latter has high-sentitivity to consumer discretionary spending - which seems difficult to sustain in the current not-so-transitory-as-formerly-believed inflationary envrionment.
However things play out - my hunch is that Mr. Musk's acquisition of Twitter may not be the only acquisition of large-cap (if-not-quite-so-large-cap-as-formerly) tech companies.
I actually agree with you re: Apple. The business model reminds me of Research in Motion.
But those developments are in the future. I’m trying to be ultra conservative and non-controversial in my analysis here. But I suspect you’re right. The attachment of many to iProducts is brand-driven.
Apple does not really have a monopoly. Rather it functions off the mainline of mobile device (i.e. it's not Android-based) & content platform competition. It has been very successful in comamnding a premium (halo effect?) for its devices and content and growing unit volumes for their LOBs - but I think their ability to do both in the future is extremely questionable.
a) Most countries (certainly Western and many of those the Global South) are operating in an infalationary environment. This is signfiicant in tending to reduce the price premium that can be realized as well as motivating content piracy.
b) It is facing supply chain challenges in China and it's not immediately obvious how they will abate.
c) China is an enormously-important market for them and their competitive position there seems likely to slip for various reasons (which I will only bore you with should you request an account of them).
Microsoft and Google would appear to be in the strongest positions, IMO. But even the latter has high-sentitivity to consumer discretionary spending - which seems difficult to sustain in the current not-so-transitory-as-formerly-believed inflationary envrionment.
However things play out - my hunch is that Mr. Musk's acquisition of Twitter may not be the only acquisition of large-cap (if-not-quite-so-large-cap-as-formerly) tech companies.
I actually agree with you re: Apple. The business model reminds me of Research in Motion.
But those developments are in the future. I’m trying to be ultra conservative and non-controversial in my analysis here. But I suspect you’re right. The attachment of many to iProducts is brand-driven.