Digital Home Convergence
Overview
As technology and entertainment converge inside the home, major players in various industries are taking different strategies in planning for the future. The concept of the “digital home” will likely take one of two forms: a closed wired entertainment network (PVRs, OnDemand) or an open wireless data network (web, email, VOIP, IPTV). The closed model is already being offered in many homes across the country, but as technology advances, the open model will become the standard. It is important to understand how both technology and entertainment are companies are strategizing to control the “digital home”.
Based on research in this report, it appears that four things are likely to occur. First,
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Microsoft
Microsoft is taking several approaches to its “digital home” strategy. The first thing it did was to release the Media PC Center in 2002. HP was the first to build a PC set-top box to run this software. Other hardware companies have been working to make the box look more like a television companion than a PC. Microsoft’s goal is to train consumers to consider buying a PC set-top box when they are upgrading their entertainment system. The current problem with this strategy is that the boxes are priced too high ($1900). In addition, Microsoft is going to incur significant pioneering costs in creating a market for these new “entertainment PCs”.
In the event that this set-top PC does not become the standard, Microsoft is also creating strategic alliances with other hardware and broadband companies. They are developing software for Comcast PVRs and LG DVD recorders. They will receive $400M from SBC for the use of Microsoft TV Internet Protocol Television Edition. Basically, they are placing bets hoping that one system will standardize. In the words of a marketing manager at Microsoft, “There is no one size fits all choice”.
Apple
Apple is currently repositioning itself as a media software and consumer electronics company due to the success of iTunes and the iPod. They were the first company to develop a successful synergy between consumer electronics and media delivery software. It is not unrealistic to expect some form of this strategy to
Overall in the past few years Apple has become more and more successful through preparing for the growth of E-Business for today’s society. The company has taken in and analysed competitors behaviour in order to remain market leaders and stay at the forefront of high end products such as IPhone and there IMacs range. Apple have tried to create a unique feel for their products when compared with Microsoft they have been trying to play catch up with Apple in all the same categories they both operate in. Apple use very different marketing techniques compared to Microsoft which has made Apple the number one brand in the world.
One key element of Apple’s strategy in computers, personal media players, tablet computers, and smart phones is product innovation, diversification and development. Over the years Apple has been very successful in integrating software and hardware in new developing products. Despite the struggling economy in recent years, Apple has been able to grow their market share and stay ahead of the game.
Microsoft has developed into an inescapable force within the technological field. Coming from a delayed humble beginning, it has had to devote large sums of money to approach the levels of the founding technological companies. Today, Microsoft controls the market in computer software. How they have achieved this status is what some have come to question. Through “bundling” software programs, manipulating other computer companies, and packaging deals with personal computers, Microsoft has managed to eradicate nearly all competitors in the computer software market (Love, 1997). This near monopoly affects the entire spectrum of classes, including the consumer, other networking providers,
This additional elasticity in Apple’s business strategy shows its aspiration to conquer Dell, HP and Microsoft, done with a exceptional and groundbreaking mixture of digital media and personal computer creations.
In The Wall Street Journal, tech reporter Daisuke Wakabayashi (2014) describes how Apple is expanding its reach into the business market. “The iPhone has replaced the BlackBerry as the mobile phone of choice, as the iPad assumes tasks once reserved for PCs,” (Wakabayashi, 2014). Wakabayashi (2014) noted that “Apple is going mainstream” when it comes to the corporate world, and he profiles multiple large enterprises — including SAP, Nordstrom, and Cisco — that have rolled out iOS and other Apple devices to their
Technology change has naturally been a major factor in Apple's success. The company played a major role in the shift to a mobile computing society, by developing the personal technology devices that would
With time, the PC continued to evolve and newer models offered better speed, color screens, more memory and larger hard drives. Further technical evolution continued to deliver higher speeds, larger storage capacity both internal and external. In addition to the hardware progression, the PC world continued to see progress with operating system solutions and advanced software catering to both large and small businesses as well as the home owner.
Consumers are also investing in home theaters. TV’s are bigger than ever and have digital and 3D capability. As the costs of all the components go down consumers are
I learned that Apple is a juggernaut when it comes to their technological products and marketing goals. Apple focuses on the needs of customer’s light years ahead of their competition and even before most consumers have realized they want Apple’s products. Through their innovative marketing involving social media, word of mouth, Apple Stores they have convinced consumers about the high value of their product even lending to the formation of a “Mac cult” for its diehard fans. The way ahead for Apple is not to lose sight of its brand loyalty and continue to service the customers and entice them with the brand’s prestige. Even with the death of Steve Jobs, I believe Apple forge ahead to differentiate itself from the markets they are in.
Technological innovation allows us to satisfy our need for convenience. Technology in general has become an essential part of our daily lives. Entertainment industries are evolving and adapting to technology becoming more user-friendly. Viewing entertainment comes in many diverse forms. This report is about Redbox kiosk and streaming technology.
The Markstrat world has a population of 250 million people. Through Year 4, the Sonite market consisted of 1.67 million people with an expected growth rate of 53% over the next five years. In order to meet the needs of consumers in the larger growing segments, Company U has developed two products in the Sonite market: SUSI and SULI. SUSI is the lower quality offering, marketed towards Singles and Others who are the most price-sensitive. Others and Singles are projected to have the highest growth rates over the next five years, at 98% and 86% respectively. This is Company U’s target market for SUSI and sales are forecasted to almost double in each segment through Year 10 (Table 1 and Chart 1). SULI is the high quality electronic offering, distributed primarily to Professionals and High Earners who are driven by performance and convenience. Market Share for both Professionals and another market segment, Buffs, are expected to decline through Year 10. The Vodite market currently consists of approximately 200,000 people with an expected growth of 200% through Year 10. The Followers segment of the Vodite market is projected to have the largest growth over the next five years at over 3300%. Company U introduced a Vodite, VUGO, in Year 5 to initially target the Early Adopters segment in turn creating a strong foundation to penetrate the Followers segment through Year 10 with predicted long term sales growth of 17%.
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is one of the world leaders in the research, development, marketing, sales and service of personal digital music & video devices, in addition to personal computers globally. Its' innovative music and digital content delivery service, iTunes, has sold over 1 billion songs to date. As of the close of their latest fiscal year the company generated $156B in Sales and generated a Gross Profit of $68B earning a Net Income of $41B (Apple Investor Relations, 2013). The intent of this analysis is to evaluate Apple's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) and provide an analysis of each. The cause, impact and recommendations for each specific strength, weakness, opportunity and threat are provided along with an action plan of how to maximize strengths and opportunities and mitigate the effects of weaknesses and threats. The Apple brand is among the most valuable in the world and its ability to innovate with successive product generations unmatched, yet this has led to a high dependence on its iPhone and iPad platforms, to the exclusion of entirely new businesses. The Apple iTunes platform and ecosystem delivers 30% of all profits and a significant portion of overall revenue, making this single business a stabilizing force in their strategic product and services roadmap (Apple Investor Relations, 2013). Despite these challenges however Apple continues to attain
Apple’s strategy has evolved as technology does. At the beginning, Apple focused on the computer industry
Nowadays, Apple has positioned itself to be an innovator in the personal computer industry and Apple has developed by offering modern products compared to its competitors. According to Apple’s mission statement last year, “Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.” (Business Management,
Apple Incorporated, formerly known as Apple Computers Incorporated, and more commonly known just as Apple, has lead the way in technology and innovation for consumer electronics with their slender storage capacities, vibrant displays, and incredible touch screen products. When they first started, their focus was more on personal computers for customers, but as the company has aged, so has their focus expanded towards this idea of consumer electronics as a whole. Seeing as they now offer popular devices including, but not limited to, computers (Mac Book), home theater (Apple TV), phones (iPhone), tablets (iPad), and media (iPod), it can clearly be