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Japanese FTC Investigating Apple's Partnerships With Suppliers
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This is normal big business. If a vendor wants a big business, the OEM (here Apple) can make many demands. If the business is big enough, the OEM can require a vendor to sub license a competitor to produce a part of the volume. If the vendor doesn’t like this, they refuse a contract. The vendor’s leverage is better if it has a unique product or strongly protected technology, or an extremely competitive cost and price structure.
It occurs to me that Apple requires carriers to subsidize advertising and to cover repairs because 1) carriers use the iPhone to attract new and retain current customers, and 2) if the carriers weren’t generally responsible for repair costs that they would, at Apple’s cost, replace phones left and right for any reason or no reason at all except to keep a customer happy. These two policies recognize the carrier’s skin in the game.
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Except Apple transparently documents these initiatives in annual public reports.
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Funny, most of the industry supported Apple’s position in court.
It occurs to me that Apple requires carriers to subsidize advertising and to cover repairs because 1) carriers use the iPhone to attract new and retain current customers, and 2) if the carriers weren’t generally responsible for repair costs that they would, at Apple’s cost, replace phones left and right for any reason or no reason at all except to keep a customer happy. These two policies recognize the carrier’s skin in the game.
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Except Apple transparently documents these initiatives in annual public reports.
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Funny, most of the industry supported Apple’s position in court.
Apple engaging in shady business practices as usual.
Who among us is shocked by this?
Nope not one bit.. as the report says their are now multiple government investigations around the globe being performed on Apples practices.. where’s there’s smoke...
If they come to the conclusions Apples guilty then you might know why all these people including Ive left the company.
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Yes, let’s remember there’s exactly what Qualcomm accused them off... and then all of a sudden Apple dropped its court case against them when Qualcomm stared they had proof Apple gave its tech and designs to Intel...
Seems it’s Apples MO, as Hobs said ‘great artists steal’.
Big customer purchasing management often makes the relationship claim. I negotiated countless big contracts, one customer always tried to deny a certain reasonably expectable financial clause (that massively benefited them of course), Each time they threatened to with the nomination, each time I said that would be ok, and a day later, they agreed to our requirement.
Don’t think that bad old Apple is culturally abusing Japanese industry.
Our Japanese customers would require “productivity”, ie annual price reductions passed back over the life of the contract (a concept if not invented in japan, massively implemented there during their devastating deflationary economic situation in the 1990’s), but after the contract was signed, they would often come back with additional reduction demands (sometimes weeks after signing), when we protested, the threatened to pull the business.
Apple dropped the case because Intel kept slipping dates and was unable to provide a alternative to Qualcomm components and Apple was not far enough along with a home grown alternative. If Apple had not struck a deal, future new product releases would have been delayed. Now that Apple has purchased Intel’s modem operations, you can bet Apple is working all out to develop a component to reduce dependence on Qualcomm.
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Apple is once again taking advantage of their brand to bully smaller companies. I appreciate their attitude towards protecting consumer privacy and such, but I don’t remember the last time they talked about their business ethics, aside from their environmental friendly practices (which is shadowed by suspected planned obsolescence).
Don’t you think the planned obsolescence trope should be retired?
There are 10 year old macs still getting macOS updates.
The iPhone 5S (6y old model, last sold 3.5 years ago) is supported with current iOS updates.
The Airport Routers all the way back to 2007 got updates a month ago.
The iPhone 4S (8y old design, last sold 6y ago) and iPad 3 got ios updates a couple weeks ago to prevent a future gps issue.
People on android often can’t even get updates when the devices are new.
Blackberry and MS/Nokia phones from 2011 aren’t even supported as far as I know.
You might want to rethink your prejudices they don’t stand up in the face of fact.
I think these are very solid arguments. They have done a very good job in terms of OS backward compatibility that most android users can only dream of (although there are custom ROMs). But for many, they upgrade their devices because of broken hardware, not outdated but still usable software. Apple earn most money when people buy new devices from them.
The trend is that they are making their devices more and more difficult to repair, at least for "unauthorized repair centers". There is the T2 ship in MacBooks, then there is the Secure Enclave. That can be a loss for consumers once Apple Care expires: either expensive official out-of-warranty repair, or buy a new device (since none other can replace the parts), and Apple Geniuses often recommend the later.
In Apple's defense, those chips do provide unique features, such as memory encryption and power saving. I think Apple do not necessarily have planned obsolescence in mind, but more devices will be disposed due to their hardware and software design choices.
Everyone take a breath and pile off. All we know is the complaint. I’d hate to have this community on a jury.
You do realize your argument is based on edge cases don’t you? Enclave and T2, who had ever heard of these being a problem? The big repair issues are what they have always been, display, glass back cover, battery aging. Even water damage has been reduced due to water resistance.
For the vast majority, if you don’t smash or dunk it, you will have a long lived phone that you ditch because it’s processor is too slow to handle the newer s/w features (do it doesn’t get them) and it’s battery is not worth replacing because of that. (Also your friends have newer units and you don’t want to feel left behind - this is important to many.)
That is the opposite of planned obsolescence.
The same as any other company: here are our terms, and if you cannot accept them there is no deal. It’s business, not a day care.
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Because Steve Jobs was so well known for his kind and flexible negotiating style?
Nope, the timeline shows Apple dropped its case very soon after Qualcomm threatened them with hard evidence of the claim of Apple passing over their secrets to Intel..
Qualcomm is still the best and probably will always be the best.
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Steve never pretended to be on a holier-than-thou high horse, certainly not in the way Tim does with his Twitter verbiage and PR claptrap.
Documentary mentioned above is probably about Apple stealing the skill of polishing the back of iPod case back in the days under Steve Jobs.
Apple had someone video factory workers for several days in great depths and ditched the factory once they were able to copy the process (close enough) in China.
Apple didn’t ask for permission or anything. Factory owner Mr.Kobayashi who was 65 at the time knew what was up, but he couldn’t put up resistance under pressure by a multi-national giant.
Found a random clip on the dude & the work he was so proud to share with Apple:
Apple had someone video factory workers for several days in great depths and ditched the factory once they were able to copy the process (close enough) in China.
Apple didn’t ask for permission or anything. Factory owner Mr.Kobayashi who was 65 at the time knew what was up, but he couldn’t put up resistance under pressure by a multi-national giant.
Found a random clip on the dude & the work he was so proud to share with Apple:
So Apple is paying its partners ($$$) and they want what they want for their $$$. Am I missing something?
Exactly. Tim Apple, who just announced he’s moving work from Texas to China, won’t be getting any help from President Trump.
Greed on both sides: Apple obviously using its size to push around smaller companies; but true also of the executives at that (and other) firms.
As Funny as most of the industry in Japan appearing to support the claim that Apple is acting as a monopolist?
"The FTC in Japan surveyed Japanese companies and found that Apple had signed contracts forcing its partners to provide free technology and know-how for parts manufacturing."
Seems there might be a good reason for Tim Cook to move to China, like to get the product made. Tim "Apple"
Way back in 2014, another company had already filed a lawsuit for the same reason.
https://www.pcworld.com/article/286...t-against-apple-over-laptop-charger-pins.html
Nikkie and other Japanese newspapers have repeatedly reported similar cases numerous times. It's just like everyone in my industry knows their business tactic.
Yes. Just like Trump pretends US automakers are still relevant. Other than Tesla obviously.
In regards to financial reporting, the numbers are audited but auditors never check anywhere other than numbers, except for a few others like business contingency matters.
In other words, no external party never and ever checks their "reported" recycle policies etc. I know coz myself is an auditor.
They have no obligation to disclose non financials other than what SEC mandates. Even then, they are not required to disclose every single detail.
Its up to you to believe these information is transparent, but generally speaking, no one doesn't.
You sound extremely intelligent. Well done you.
One day I'll sound as intelligent as you. Well done!
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How are Ford, Chrysler, GM, and so on not relevant? They sell more than Telsa. Educate yourself.