Already the most profitable smartphone vendor around, Apple is boosting its income with high-margin handset accessories. When Apple launched its new iPhone 5S and 5C smartphones at retail on Sept. 20, it paired them with a line of protective and fashionable cases. The iPhone 5S cases are made of premium leather with a soft microfiber liner and cost $39 each. The iPhone 5C cases are made of silicone and cost $29 each. Apple’s move into smartphone cases is taking business away from third-party accessories makers, especially OtterBox, says Mike Levin, partner and co-founder of Consumer Intelligence Research Partners. A survey of 400 iPhone users who activated their handsets in the 30 days after the iPhone 5S and 5C launch shows that Apple (AAPL) has quickly become the No. 2 seller of iPhone cases behind OtterBox, CIRP reported Thursday. The poll revealed that 76% of new iPhone buyers also bought …
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Apple is padding its smartphone profit