Apple has sold more than 85,9 million
iPhones since its launch in 2007, enabling the company to position itself as
the leader on the smartphone market. However, Samsung, Apple’s biggest
supplier, has gained more and more share in this market, especially thanks to
the Samsung Galaxy S3. In the second quarter of 2012, Samsung sold 50.5 million
smartphones, almost twice what Apple sold. South Korean giant Samsung has
become a threat for Apple.
Apple has tried to outplay its competitors
with the launch of the iPhone 5 in late September. Nevertheless, the new iPhone
has somewhat disappointed, especially because of its lack of innovation, and
sales of Galaxy S3 have continued to supplant those of the iPhone 5.
Fortunately for Apple, the lawsuit
filed against Samsung for patent infringement (concerning the design and the
user-interface) allowed the American company to ban the sale of Samsung key smartphones and tablet products on American soil in late August, and Apple was awarded more than $1
billion. For its part, Apple has not been found guilty of patent infringement
from Samsung, especially in the technology of wireless internet (wifi).
Feeling exhilarated, Apple filed a
complaint in several countries to obtain the same result, however decisions
were different. Thus, in the UK, Apple was sentenced to write a message of
apology, explaining to users that Samsung did not copy its products. In Japan,
the court considered that the technologies deployed by Galaxy smartphones and Samsung’s
tablets didn’t infringe the patents of the iPhone and iPad.
The
South Korean court sentenced both groups : Apple was ordered to pay €28,000 for
the misuse of two patents on wireless technology specification filed by its
competitor. Samsung, for its part, was ordered to compensate Apple to the tune of €18,000 for violating its patents on its user-interface. According to the agency Dow
Jones, the court prohibited the marketing in South Korea of iPhone 3GS, iPhone
4, iPad 1 and iPad 2, as well as for Samsung Galaxy S phones, Nexus and Galaxy
S2, Galaxy Tab tablets and Galaxy 10.1.
Subsequently, Apple could go after its nemesis, the Google operating system, used on most smartphones (including Samsung’s ones). The Android system is said to violate some touchscreen user-interface patents. Bringing an action against Android would make collateral victims such as Motorola, LG, HTC and Sony. According to Samsung, Apple wants “to limit consumer choice”, and it seems to be the case.
Some
people believe that Microsoft could emerge as the winner in this case. Its operating
system, Windows Phone, is nothing like Android or iOS. The company could take
advantage of this opportunity to pounce and finally impose itself. This is an
excellent possibility to attract new customers for Microsoft, as smartphone
manufacturers may feel threatened by Apple and are encouraged to propose smartphones
running with a new OS.
Estelle R.
I'm personnaly glad to see Apple finally threatened by one of its competitors. It has long been the only one reliable when it comes to buy a fancy phone. Specially considering the fact that Apple has its specific devises that cost A LOT, it was time for someone else to get into the race !
ReplyDeleteBesides now they are fighting with each other, they have to be competitive in term of technology when they launch a new smartphone, and Apple can no longer afford to rest on its laurels !
This fight kind of reminds me of the one opposing FreeMobile in France with Orange, SFR and Bouygues, don't you think ?
When someone gets to the top, he better be perpared not to fall ! ^^
Elodie P
Apple may have,in terms of smartphone, a monopoly in the past but it is no longer the case. And I personally think the controversy about the lack of innovations of iPhone 5 is a good thing. It make apple understood that it needs somewhat some new innovations if they want to survive in an increasingly competitive market...
ReplyDeleteSandra
All these issues regarding patents and the fact that Apple decides to sue Samsung, show that Apple is afraid of the competition and that it is realizing that other groups are able to make and sell quality products. That's why I agree with Elodie when she says that Apple cannot rest on its laurels anymore because instead of fighting directly against Samsung, Apple should innovate.
ReplyDeleteEloïse M.