iphone 5s - Page 3 of 4

Some Apple Retail Stores Start Price Matching iPad Air and iPhone 5

Posted on December 4, 2013 by sales

Multiple Apple Stores in the United States have started price matching the iPhone 5c and the iPad Air, reports 9to5Mac. On those particular devices, some Apple Stores will match the prices of brick and mortar retailers that have been selling the products below retail price.

Walmart, for example, sells the entry-level 16 GB iPad Air for $479, a $20 discount off of the standard retail price Apple offers. MacRumorsheard conflicting reports of Apple Stores price matching discounts over Black Friday, but following the major shopping holiday, it appears retail employees may have been given more flexibility when it comes to price matching options.

Released in September and October respectively, both the iPhone 5c and the iPad Air have been widely available since the launch, while supplies of the iPhone 5s and the Retina iPad mini have been far more constrained, which explains why Apple is not offering price matching on those particular products at this time.

Apple’s price matching policies vary from store to store, and some stores may opt out of price matching all together. Price matching only applies to physical stores and is limited to a 10 percent total discount, which means customers can still find a better deal elsewhere in some cases, especially when it comes to the deep discounts offered on the iPhone 5c.

Update: According to a retail employee, Apple now has an official policy on price matching, which allows specialists to price match iPhones, iPads, and Macs, giving up to 10 percent off on products without authorization. Specialists are also allowed to give business customers up to 20% off a non-Apple accessory when purchased with an Apple product via special order.

Currently, the iPhone 5s and the Retina iPad mini are excluded from price matching.

Apple Reportedly Developing iPhones with Large Curved Screens for 2014

Posted on November 11, 2013 by sales

Apple is developing two next-generation iPhones with larger, curved glass screens set for release late next year, reports Bloomberg. The new iPhones will feature displays at 4.7 and 5.5 inches, with the report also claiming that Apple is working on enhanced touch sensors that incorporate pressure sensitivity for later iPhone models after next year.

iPhone 5s vs. 5.7-inch Samsung Galaxy Note III (Source: phoneArena.com)

Two models planned for release in the second half of next year will feature larger displays with glass that curves downward at the edges, said the person, declining to be identified as the details aren’t public. Sensors that can distinguish heavy or light touches on the screen may be incorporated into subsequent models, the person said.

The new iPhones will be Apple’s largest at screens of 4.7 and 5.5 inches, the person said, approaching in size the 5.7-inch Galaxy Note 3 that Samsung Electronics Co. debuted in September. The South Korean maker last month released the curved display Galaxy Round, the latest phone in an array of sizes and price points that’s helped keep it ahead of Apple in global market share.

The new Apple handsets are still in development and plans haven’t been completed, the person said, adding that the company will probably release them in the third quarter of next year.

While Apple routinely develops prototype devices that are never released, rumors of an iPhone featuring a significantly larger screen have surfaced occasionally throughout the past couple of months. The Wall Street Journal reported in July and September that Apple had begun testing prototype iPhones with screens as large as six inches, and a report last month from NPD DisplaySearch speculated Apple may launch both a 4.7-inch and a 5.7-inch iPhone in 2014.

MacRumors released a printable papercraft version of a 5-inch iPhone back in February of this year after other rumors of a larger iPhone surfaced.

Apple Asks Developers to Refrain From Using Gold iPhone 5s Images in Marketing Materials

Posted on November 1, 2013 by sales

For a number of years, Apple has asked that developers use only images of black iOS devices in their App Store marketing materials, although that restriction has never been firmly enforced. With the new look of iOS 7, Apple has been turning its promotional focus to white devices, and as noted by 9to5Mac earlier this month, the company removed language restricting developers to black devices, opening the door to additional color options.

On its App Store Marketing Guidelines page, Apple provides product images with blank display areas for all of the current iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models to allow developers to paste their app screenshots into them for promotional purposes. The product colors included in Apple’s downloads are limited, however, with the iPhone 5s, iPad Air, and iPad mini available in silver and space gray options while the iPhone 5c is available in blue and white and the iPod touch is available in blue and space gray.

Notably absent are files allowing developers to include their screenshots on gold iPhone 5s devices for marketing purposes, and Apple has now extended that restriction to custom photography and video, which already requires explicit approval from Apple. Apple has clarified which colors of devices may be used in custom photos and video with a new addition to the marketing guidelines:

Feature only the most current Apple products in the following finishes or colors: iPhone 5s in silver or space gray, iPhone 5c in white or blue, iPad Air in silver or space gray, and iPad mini in silver or space gray.

Just yesterday, a survey revealed that the blue and white iPhone 5c models have proven most popular with U.S. customers, and Apple’s guidance on using those colors for developer marketing parallels consumer preference.

The iPhone 5s is a somewhat different story, with that survey showing the gold models with the lowest share among the three color options, but gold models have also been in the shortest supply. Those shortages have almost certainly skewed the buying patterns as customers wanting a gold iPhone have in many cases been forced to either turn to another color or hold off on their purchases until they can find a gold unit for purchase.

Apple has been heavily promoting the gold iPhone 5s in its television and print advertising for the iPhone 5s, and thus it appears that Apple prefers to keep focus on the distinctive color to itself. Within hours of the iPhone 5s launch as it became clear that customer demand for gold models was higher than expected, Apple was reportedly already moving to boost production of those models. Supplies do, however, remain very tight in Apple’s retail stores and other locations.

Apple Says Manufacturing Defect is Responsible for Battery Issues in Some iPhone 5s Devices

Posted on October 30, 2013 by sales

manufacturing defect has affected a small number of Apple’s iPhone 5s devices causing shortened battery life and longer charging times, according to an Apple representative who spoke to The New York Times. The iPhone 5s, which was introduced in September, is rated for up to 10 hours of battery life on 3G and 250 hours of standby time.

“We recently discovered a manufacturing issue affecting a very limited number of iPhone 5S devices that could cause the battery to take longer to charge or result in reduced battery life,” said Teresa Brewer, an Apple spokeswoman. “We are reaching out to customers with affected phones and will provide them with a replacement phone.”

Apple has not specified how many iPhones are affected by the issue, but according toThe New York Times, Apple’s statement suggests that only a few thousand users may be experiencing battery life issues out of several million. After the launch of the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c, Apple reported that it had sold a total of nine million devices, but did not break the sales number down further.

While Apple did not give specific details on the manufacturing issue or how it plans to contact affected users, the company will replace defective iPhone 5s units with functional devices.

Sales Gap Between iPhone 5s and 5c Narrowing Over Time

Posted on October 22, 2013 by sales

Following the initial launch weekend for the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c last month, analytics firm Localytics reported that it was seeing about 3.5 times as many iPhone 5s units showing up as iPhone 5c units, highlighting a strong preference for the higher-priced models by early adopters. At the time, we noted that the gap was likely to narrow over time and a report last week from a separate research firm indicated that the margin had indeed fallen to two-to-one.

Localytics has now published a new report that provides a more complete look at the data over the past month, revealing how the iPhone 5c has been steadily gaining traction both in the U.S. and abroad, with the iPhone 5s-to-iPhone 5c ratio falling to 1.9 in the U.S. and 2.3 globally. Localytics’ numbers are cumulative since launch, indicating that the current sales ratios are even closer.

The iPhone 5s remains in very short supply, with carriers such as Verizon indicating that they could have sold even more units of the device had supplies been readily available. The iPhone 5c, in contrast, has seen good supplies throughout Apple’s distribution channels, allowing the company to meet demand. As a result, the ratios at which the devices are being seen are not exactly reflective of true demand, but it seems clear that demand is evening out a bit following the initial surge from early adopters focused on the iPhone 5s. As more mainstream customers look to upgrade when their current contracts run out, demand for the two lines may end up being in significantly closer balance.

Apple Increasing iPhone 5s Production by 75%, Cutting iPhone 5c Orders by 35%

Posted on October 19, 2013 by sales

Apple is cutting iPhone 5c orders from its suppliers by 35 percent according to analysts at NPD DisplaySearch (via AllThingsD), echoing prior reports from The Wall Street Journaland Reuters.

However, the new report goes further, claiming that iPhone 5s production has been boosted by 75 percent. This would seem to be promising news for Apple because increased sales of the 5s would lift its average revenue per iPhone sold.

While the fate of the iPhone 5c is still to be determined, the iPhone 5s is doing quite well, indicating that Apple still has a strong hardcore base for its premium devices. It is worth mentioning that iPhone 5 production is scheduled to end Q3 2013; iPhone 4s’s end of life is still to be determined, as it still receives orders of 1 to 2 million units per month and only recently started selling in Indonesia.

The iPhone 5s has been in somewhat short supply with shipping lead times of 2-3 weeksfrom the Apple Online Store.

Apple recently began a new print ad campaign for the iPhone 5s, the first advertisements we’ve seen for that device after several weeks of a sustained and prominent television campaign for the iPhone 5c.

Apple CEO Tim Cook warned earlier this year about looking at any particular rumor out of the company’s supply chain because, even if one is accurate, they do not paint a full picture of Apple’s operations.

iPhone Trade-In Program Officially Launching Today at UK Retail Stores

Posted on October 15, 2013 by sales

After officially launching the U.S. version of the program in late August, Apple has officially confirmed that it is launching its iPhone trade-in program today at its UK retail stores, reportsPocket-lint.

“iPhones hold great value. So, Apple Retail Stores in the UK are launching a new program to assist customers who wish to bring in their previous-generation iPhone for reuse or recycling,” an Apple spokesperson has said. “In addition to helping support the environment, customers will be able to receive a credit for their returned phone that they can use toward the purchase of a new iPhone.”

Under the program, users can receive a gift card in exchange for their older devices, although the gift card must immediately be used toward the purchase of a new iPhone.

Customers may also get quotes from Apple for a similar trade-in program online thatlaunched nearly two years ago, with the option of shipping a device for recycling available as well. In the United States, the online and in-store programs are run by different third-party companies, and the same may be true in the UK, meaning that consumers may want to check both programs to determine any differences in trade-in value. Separate trade-in services may also offer greater value, although Apple’s in-store program offers the convenience of an immediate no-hassle credit against the purchase of a new device.

More iPhone 5C, 5S news: http://www.obd2mobile.com/category/iphone-news/

Regulatory Agency Grants Apple Authorization Needed to Sell iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c in Brazil

Posted on October 11, 2013 by sales

Apple has been granted authorization by the Brazillian National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) needed to sell the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c in the country, reports ZDNet. The new devices have received approval to operate with 4G technology avaliable in Brazil on the 2600 MHz band, while previous models had been limited to the 700 MHz band level. The devices will be produced domestically at the Foxconn factories in São Paulo.

However, it is not known at this time when Apple’s new iPhones will launch in the country, as it is not included in the two new rounds of international iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c launches that Apple announced yesterday. Last year, the iPhone 5 was approved for Brazil in October only to be launched in the country on two months later on Friday, December 14, almost three months after the phone’s launch in the first wave of countries.

The news also comes as Apple won the right to legally use the “iPhone” name in Brazil last month, after a judge ruled in favor of the Cupertino company in an ongoing lawsuit with Brazillian company IGB Electronica, after a long legal battle that stretched for almost a year. A report in August also indicated that Apple’s first Brazillian retail store will open in December in Rio de Janeiro after recruiting prospective employees in November 2012.

Apple to Resume In-Store Pickup Orders for iPhone 5s Next Week

Posted on October 2, 2013 by sales

On Monday, Apple began offering a Personal Pickup option for the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c via its online purchase page and through its Apple Store app, giving customers a way to check in-store availability for each phone model and place orders for in-store pickup.

The following day, Apple removed the in-store pickup option for iPhone 5s orders, leaving shoppers with the option of placing an online order for delivery in October or visiting local retail stores in person to check in-store availability. There was no explanation given for the feature’s removal, though the continued constrained supply of the iPhone 5s could have contributed.

According to 9to5Mac, Apple will reinstate the in-store pickup option for both the app and its website beginning on Monday, September 30, once again allowing customers to check stock and place orders for pickup.

Apple’s supplies of the iPhone 5s remain tight, with all models and capacities displaying a ship time of October. iPhone 5c supplies are plentiful, with all models and capacities shipping within 24 hours.