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French Carrier Executive Claims Frugal Customers Hurting iPhone Sales

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Apr 12, 2001
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Stephane Richard, CEO of France Telecom, said in an interview with Bloomberg that customer behavior is changing and price-conscious consumers are driving demand for lower priced smartphones, threatening sales of comparatively expensive phones like the iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy S line.
The shift has been especially severe in Europe, where more customers are keeping the same phone when they switch carriers. Amid a slumping economy and mounting competition, France Telecom has seen prices drop 25 percent over the past three years, squeezing profit margins and its stock price. Its cheapest plan now provides unlimited calls and texting and 3 gigabytes of data for about 20 euros ($26) a month -- about half the price of T- Mobile USA Inc.'s $50 plan, which is touted as a U.S. bargain.
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Richard believes there will be fewer early adopters purchasing the latest and greatest devices going forward, though it's unclear if the slowdown would be restricted to Europe or if it could pressure iPhone sales in the U.S. as well. Regardless, many recent rumors suggest Apple is working on a cheaper iPhone to address some of these concerns.

Article Link: French Carrier Executive Claims Frugal Customers Hurting iPhone Sales
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/04/03/french-carrier-executive-claims-frugal-customers-hurting-iphone-sales/
European plans tend to be a lot better than US plans anyway. You guys are bent over and screwed repeatedly everyday.
 
Hah they'll be in for more of a world of hurt when people stick with the 5 when the 5S comes out.

And GS3 when GS4 is out/is it out over there?
 
No, you guys just want to keep selling these phones with ridiculously expensive subscriptions, and then when nobody is buying your phone because it's all to expensive you suddenly claim it's "hurting sales" try making things cheaper, you greedy douche.
 
More than a cheap iPhone, I would like to see cheaper plans for voice and data. I rather pay my next phone to be unlock and maybe get a "pay as you go" plan. Still these seem very expensive with AT&T in the US.
No wonder they don't want people to leave their 2 year expensive commitment.
 
Wait, unlimited calls, texts and 3GB of data for $30?! That's like $100 in the states.
 
Some people want cheap. Some people want value.

Perhaps the carrier is tailoring to the cheap.
 
'More iPhones would be sold if they cost less money' shock claim!

Next on ObviousNewsNightly: Amazing analysis suggests fewer Android devices would be sold if they cost more money.
 
Can't wait till Apple releases the 16GB iPhone 5S for £600 unlocked so i can laugh hysterically at them.
 
johnnyjibbs said:
Not surprising really
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Yup. Especially in Europe.

1) They are close to a double dip recession
2) The French customers must not be very confident with their economic prospects considering a month does not pass by without a European country that needs to be bailed out
3) The cheaper phones are crossing the threshold of good enough.
 
Dwalls90 said:
Wait, unlimited calls, texts and 3GB of data for $30?! That's like $100 in the states.
Click to expand...

I feel for you guys in the states, your plans are ridiculously expensive. You can pick up a sim only plan with 2000 minutes, unlimited texts and unlimited data (truly unlimited) with tethering included for around $37/month.
 
I doubt a bunch of cheap frenchies is going to make any real difference to Apple or Samsuck.
 
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