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Apple Pulls All Withings Accessories From Apple Online Store Following Nokia Lawsuit

Apple don't want go to court against Nokia knowing Nokia most likely will win it. Nokia is innovative company and has invested 115 billion to R&D. It's time for Apple to start paying patents they are using. However, Nokia sure would like to continue selling Withings products in Apple Stores. So now after this Withings ban, maybe they can make peace and a deal both are satisfied with.
 
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robeddie said:
I know it's their right, but at the same time, it seems so childish. And let's face it, Apple is suing other companies left and right too. In fact, haven't they battled Samsung? They should cut all ties with Samsung too (yeah, right).
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Does Apple sell Samsung phones? o_O

Stella said:
Poor little Timmy - having a temper tamptrum.

If so, master Timmy should stop selling Fitbit products.
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Does Apple sell Fitbit products … other than the app for the iPhone? :confused:
 
bluespark said:
I wonder how many of the posters claiming this is "childish" actually work in the business world. Companies choose who they do business with, and they do so for all sorts of reasons. Apple partners with those companies represented in the Apple Store. If a business partner engages in conduct inconsistent with that relationship, then it's not unreasonable to terminate the relationship. There's also a strong secondary benefit in that companies contemplating something similar may think twice.

Also, while much business litigation results from a good-faith dispute that both parties are happy to resolve through the courts, some is not. It's very possible (likely, I think) that Apple viewed Nokia's suit as being in bad faith. That's part of the reason Apple is reacting differently here than they might elsewhere. Every situation is different.
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Exactly. And notice the wording and attitude of the posts calling Apple "childish"...
 
robeddie said:
I know it's their right, but at the same time, it seems so childish. And let's face it, Apple is suing other companies left and right too. In fact, haven't they battled Samsung? They should cut all ties with Samsung too (yeah, right).
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Are they suing them while asking them to sell their products?
 
It's not like anyone who needs accurate blood pressure readings would buy that cuff anyways. I asked my dad's heart doc office about it and they laughed.
 
MH01 said:
yeah I don't see Microsoft surface or Samsung phones in apple stores, sorry but that is the logic behind your assertion .
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Yup. That is indeed exactly my point.

MH01 said:
Had Microsoft sold iPhones and Disney shrek, made profits out of them, and pulled the products as a result of a lawsuit you would have a point.
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Why on earth would it matter if they used to or not?

Things change.

The Disney stores didn't used to have Marvel characters. Now they do. Because circumstances changed.

Saying "but they didn't used to" doesn't mean it has to stay that way forever.
 
thasan said:
If they had other options, I'm sure they would take it.
It makes good business sense.
Taking out withings product doesn't dent apples profit much but it can hurt withings much more.
So why not?
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It's been this way with Apple and Samsung for 10 years. This is the option that makes business sense to both companies. No company is going to kill their bottom line for the principle of not doing business with another company they have a personal dislike for.

Taking out withings product doesn't dent Apple's profit "much" implies Apple is still hurting themselves somewhat for stupid, petty reasons. Why burn money just to throw a little baby tantrum. It makes Apple come off as crying like a little kid and taking their ball home from the playground.
 
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Small White Car said:
Yup. That is indeed exactly my point.



Why on earth would it matter if they used to or not?

Things change.

The Disney stores didn't used to have Marvel characters. Now they do. Because circumstances changed.

Saying "but they didn't used to" doesn't mean it has to stay that way forever.
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Cause this is about throwing ones toys out of the pram. The key here is not if a company chooses to sell x product, it's pulling the product due to a legal disagreement......that has not yet been resolved.

It's taking your ball and going home in a sulk. You are entitled to, but the other kids and adults will have a laugh . That is all
 
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DevNull0 said:
It's been this way with Apple and Samsung for 10 years. This is the option that makes business sense to both companies. No company is going to kill their bottom line for the principle of not doing business with another company they have a personal dislike for.

Taking out withings product doesn't dent Apple's profit "much" implies Apple is still hurting themselves somewhat for stupid, petty reasons. Why burn money just to throw a little baby tantrum. It makes Apple come off as crying like a little kid and taking their ball home from the playground.
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Why would it be a tantrum? It makes perfect sense to me. Apple Store space is at a premium. There are lot of companies who would fill that space in no time. Hence, Apple makes the same amount of profit. I don't think withings will have the same advantage.
So your playground analogy is false here.
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Stella said:
Hi Master Timmy! Happy Christmas.

Conflicts have to be decided by the courts - not by personal opinions.
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You are not bright enough to understand what I wrote and you simply copied one of your previous responses.
If you are being paid for negative posts, I suggest you to be a little more creative.
Thank you.
 
macgabe said:
Sounds like Apple is saying Withings is more valuable than the patent litigation, and Apple has made the Withings brand what it is by promoting it heavily in Apple Stores.

I certainly would not have been nearly as aware of the brand if they hadn't been one of the few non-Apple devices in my local store. It's a major seal of approval.

They chose to feature that brand when it was no threat to them. Now they are a threat, so they're removing the brand. They don't sell Samsung, Microsoft or Google smart watches in the Apple store either. Why would they.

Sounds logical to me, and may work as a negotiating tactic with Nokia.
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Nah, Withings will survive because Apple decided to let everyone know the products wont be available in their retail locations anymore. The shortest distance between two points is always a straight line; this is similar to the most logical answer is correct. And well, Apple (probably Tim Cook) is suffering from angst that started in childhood.

Remember- Apple's illogical actions all started when Apple refused to sit down and negotiate a new patent agreement. Likely Nokia approached Apple and gave them a warning. Instead, Apple refused to negotiate, and wanted to run with the strength of its PR team and file a lawsuit.

Apple also started using Nokia's designs and infringing on 40 of Nokia's patents. Most likely, more patents have been infringed too.. Remember- this *is* Nokia; and their income at one point in time accounted for over 25% of the income for the entire country of Finland at one point in time. All Apple had to do was negotiate. Instead, Nokia built a case in 4 countries on the basis of patent infringement. Apple lawyers will have their work cut out for them; and no such law related to "double jeopardy" exists in Europe.

The strange thing is that Apple customers are willing to pay for a top-of-the-line product. But Apple (as a company) has only been focused on lowering the cost to manufacture and that hitting a target manufactring cost appears to be a requisite to... well.. even Quality Testing. Just look at the recent review by Consumer Reports regarding the new MacBook Pro, which varies extremely wildly on how long a charge lasts. If the Macbook lasts 3 hours (2 college courses) on one day, and 8 hours (4 college courses) on the next day, what's the point of bringing it to class unless each seat has a outlet..? It's a useless tool.
 
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Johnny907 said:
"Courage!"*

*Petty
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Yeah, pretty much. In my part of the country, "Liquid Courage" generally comes in a can and is fermented. :) I Snickered the first time I heard that Apple was trying to be courageous; but based on the customer response, it hasn't necessarily worked.


Maybe Phil will have another... or Apple will find new ways to force customers to upgrade their hardware. ;)
 
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Just in case anyone is still under the delusion that quality or your needs are the primært criteria for third party products being peddled to you in the store.

Apple's credibility as a retailer is hoiing in the toilet here.
 
ruurd said:
Why is it that tech companies always seem to end up being patent trolls...
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Meh... I don't know. But LTE and GSM wasn't invented by Apple. Nokia and Ericsson are the two main companies.

Nokia is so large they bought Lucent Technologies (a major manufacturer of CDMA equipment used by Sprint/Verizon); and also France-based Alcatel.

Throwing around terms like "Patent Troll" may work for companies that aren't publicly traded or acquired major telecom equipment manufacturers in the US. I'm not sure Apple knows what it's doing... Angering the beast is just going to prevent the iPhone from being imported into Europe. Which... You know, may be a good thing. because then, it'd become abundantly clear that Apple's Ireland subsidiary functions more like a Commercial Bank and subject to financial regulation... Maybe Apple will be persuaded to pay some tax bills paid in the process too!
 
kingofwale said:
not the first time Apple pull this crap. It's almost if the entire retail market is controlled by some with the maturity of highschool freshman
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And we all know how it ends... millions and millions of dollars later they'll settle. Apple ups the price to make up its lawyers cost. In the end it's the customer who pays the bills. Deja vu all over again.

It's stupid Apple is pulling those products from their stores. They only hurt themselves and the more reason to never set step in one of their ancient tech museums again.
 
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That new Spaceship office building is going to make a great shopping mall in 3-5 years when this company finally folds. Apple is going down the drain, and in a hurry!
 
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And I was just about to buy the scale, but procrastinated.
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Stella said:
Apple throwing its toys out of the stroller.

Grow up.

Apple store is the last place I'd personally buy a fitness gadget.
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When it's discounted you do.
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thasan said:
If they had other options, I'm sure they would take it.
It makes good business sense.
Taking out withings product doesn't dent apples profit much but it can hurt withings much more.
So why not?
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Apple needs 3rd party accessories to bolster first party sales by way of justification of purpose.

This ultimately will be a temporary measure.

Apart from Fitbit, are there other alternatives for similar Withings products?
 
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