Apple Building Cash Reserves for 'Big, Bold' Moves

[charlituna]

I wouldn't doubt they bought some of the Analogue Spectrum from the FCC and will someday offer FREE internet to their customers. That would be "big, bold"! And very welcomed.

They don't want to be an internet service provider. or a cell phone company etc.

Now what I could see is them becoming partners in the gov't move to have high speed support built throughout the country.

Or partner up with some of these "A computer in every family/classroom" programs. Perhaps create some kind of special financing and/or discount for families under a certain income level. Or for the classroom thing, create a whole team like they have for businesses, that works with the schools in ordering computers, providing free or discounted memberships to their 'one to one' program for the teachers. or even onsite training for teachers and students.

those are all rather bold moves.

as for the general consumer. things I could see that would be huge bold moves that maybe they would do.
1. First year of 'one to one' is free
2. extend all warranties to 3 years for computers and 2 for the rest. ie, no more buying applecare.
3. drop the price/raise the storage/both of mobileme.
4. create some kind of recycling program for computers like they did with the ipods where you bring in your old one and get a discount.
5. Extend the education pricing to high school students officially (half of them just go online and lie since apparently no one checks)

Other stuff that is really insane sounding but could be possible.
1. pushing development of new video formats for true blu-ray quality HD that's not insanely huge. and pushing more labels to do the whole Extras thing so what you are downloading is identical to what you'd buy on disk (reducing clutter, landfill trash, etc)
2. pushing SSD development and removing old school hard drives from more and more systems. particularly portable ones
3. actually doing work on the Apple TV to turn it into a Mac based home theatre system

Another big, bold move that would win Apple some serious points would be to move away from China only production. Imagine if each sales area was supported by their own factories. So US sold products are made in the US (or at least in North America). Europe in Europe. and so on. It reduces shipping times and costs and even things like fuel consumption. It might hurt the consumers just a tad in that prices might not change for a cycle but a lot of folks could turn out okay with that if they could have 'made in America' on that new computer.

 

[Jaro65]

Look at Steve's hands, obviously they are talking about who is "bigger".

SJ was just showing him how big the iPad was going to be.

 

[helenkan]

They don't want to be an internet service provider. or a cell phone company etc.

Now what I could see is them becoming partners in the gov't move to have high speed support built throughout the country.

Or partner up with some of these "A computer in every family/classroom" programs. Perhaps create some kind of special financing and/or discount for families under a certain income level. Or for the classroom thing, create a whole team like they have for businesses, that works with the schools in ordering computers, providing free or discounted memberships to their 'one to one' program for the teachers. or even onsite training for teachers and students

.

those are all rather bold moves.

as for the general consumer. things I could see that would be huge bold moves that maybe they would do.
1. First year of 'one to one' is free
2. extend all warranties to 3 years for computers and 2 for the rest. ie, no more buying applecare.
3. drop the price/raise the storage/both of mobileme.
4. create some kind of recycling program for computers like they did with the ipods where you bring in your old one and get a discount.
5. Extend the education pricing to high school students officially (half of them just go online and lie since apparently no one checks)

Other stuff that is really insane sounding but could be possible.
1. pushing development of new video formats for true blu-ray quality HD that's not insanely huge. and pushing more labels to do the whole Extras thing so what you are downloading is identical to what you'd buy on disk (reducing clutter, landfill trash, etc)
2. pushing SSD development and removing old school hard drives from more and more systems. particularly portable ones
3. actually doing work on the Apple TV to turn it into a Mac based home theatre system

Another big, bold move that would win Apple some serious points would be to move away from China only production. Imagine if each sales area was supported by their own factories. So US sold products are made in the US (or at least in North America). Europe in Europe. and so on. It reduces shipping times and costs and even things like fuel consumption. It might hurt the consumers just a tad in that prices might not change for a cycle but a lot of folks could turn out okay with that if they could have 'made in America' on that new computer.

Great post. They sure do have some deep pockets and probably can take a risk or two with their innovative moves. They usually take very calculated risks and size up their competition before making a splash.

 

[duncan35]

Attention will be paid to Marissa Tomei.