Tag Archives: aapl

Applesphere poised to surround you like a Sharknado

We all live in the ecosphere, but Apple ([AAPL) wants people to live in the Applesphere. Applesphere is a term coined by UBS analyst Steven Milunovich to describe how Apple is expanding its influence to cover a mega-ecosystem of products that surround us. “Some have posited a converged platform as Apple’s next big thing. We see more of an ecosystem creep, connected but distributed tentacles that are increasingly present in consumers’ lives,” Milunovich said in a report Wednesday. “We call it the Applesphere.” Apple (AAPL) CEO Tim Cook outlined his overarching

How many iPhones must die before Apple protects them?

I lost a loved one in a tragic boating accident last week on Big Star Lake in Michigan. The paddleboat I was piloting flipped over just offshore on the summer vacation lake. I survived, but my 10-month-old Apple (AAPL) iPhone 5S did not. It was in my pocket at the time, and I pulled it out and held it above water within 30 seconds of our going into the drink. I did the recommended resuscitation technique of putting the phone in a sealed container with rice to absorb the water. But 24 hours later, the device was still brain-dead. Luckily I had purchased an insurance plan on the iPhone with my two-year wireless contract from AT&T (T), making it quick and easy to get a new phone by mail in two days. There was a $200 deductible to get the new device, but an unlocked iPhone 5S with 32 gigabytes

What’s next for AT&T? Apple iPhone 6 upgrades loom large

Wireless churn — the number of subscribers that disconnect service — marked a Q2 bright spot for AT&T (T), which nevertheless missed on EPS and revenue. With Apple’s (AAPL) launch of the iPhone 6 expected as early as September, a big question is how well-positioned AT&T will be as subscribers upgrade to Apple’s new device. In response to aggressive marketing by T-Mobile US (TMUS), AT&T has promoted wireless plans that make it easier for customers to upgrade to new smartphones. With installment-payment plans, AT&T has reduced retail subsidies on mobile phones, improving wireless profit margins. The new installment-payment plans, however, usually come with discounts on data services, lowering revenue. And AT&T also has offered “Mobile Share Value” discounts to existing customers as a retention tool. That helped AT&T notch record-low customer churn, or disconnects, in Q2. AT&T now has 55 million smartphone subscribers, with 24 million of those — 44% of its…