China Mobile's Growth slowing down

China Mobile, the world’s largest mobile operator, has reported single-digit growth in revenue and profit amid signs of a maturing market. In the nine months between January and September this year, the firm reported profit of CNY87.2 billion (US$13.1 billion), up 3.9 percent from the same period a year ago, on revenue of CNY352.6 billion, up 7.8 percent.

However, ARPU was flat at CNY72 and the EBITDA margin dropped by about 1 percentage point to 50.4 percent. The increasing penetration rate of mobile telecommunications and the changes in the competition environment of the telecommunications industry, the group's customer growth showed signs of slowing down. China Mobile’s total customer base increased to just under 570 million.

Unicom revealed its customer numbers for September, noting that it is now adding more 3G than 2G customers. It added just 800,000 net 2G subscribers in September to reach 151.5 million 2G subs, but 1 million 3G subscribers to reach 10.6 million 3G customers.

iPhone 4 TVC in China

iPhone 4 has finally landed in CHina and Apple has just launched two commercials to promote the ‘game-changing’ product to the Chinese market, pretty similar to the one made for the US market.

Apple Crushing 4th Quarter

Apple crushed revenue and earnings estimates, as expected, and the company's guidance looks strong for its holiday quarter. But the iPad business posted a huge miss: 4.19 million shipments versus the Street's consensus at 4.7 million and many estimates above 5 million due to a supply issue, noting that supply and demand weren't balanced until September, the last month of the quarter.

Steve Jobs stole the show on the call, trashing competitors like RIM and Google, and suggesting that the iPad and iPhone will win against rivals because they are better products at great prices and holding onto its cash in excess of $50 billion now which put them in great position for any strategic acquisition.

On the positive side, Apple's iPhone business posted huge numbers despite the "Antennagate" moving 14.1 million phones last quarter, and boasted in its press release that this beat RIM's most recent quarter, when it shipped 12.1 million BlackBerry devices.

Key Stats:

• Revenue: $20.34 billion vs. $18.9 billion consensus;
• iPad shipments: 4.19 million vs. 4.7 million consensus (via Piper Jaffray); accounted for $2.8 billion in total revenue
• iPhone shipments: 14.1 million vs. 11 million consensus (via Piper Jaffray); The iPhone continues to be the biggest money maker for Apple, accounting for $8.8 billion in revenue, with an average selling price of about $610
• Mac shipments: 3.89 million vs. 3.7 million consensus (via Piper Jaffray)
• iPod shipments: 9.05 million vs. 10 million consensus (via Piper Jaffray)
• Apple TV device : 250,000 units sold
• Sales in the Americas generated $7.2 billion in revenue. Europe accounted for $5.4 billion and Asia Pacific was $2.7 billion.
• iTunes had revenue of more than $1B for the quarter.

It was also confirmed by Jobs that Apple isnt working on a smaller iPad based around a 7-inch screen giving reason that it would be too small to express the software.

Nielsen: Android is the No.1 choice for new smartphone buyers in the US

The Nielsen Company has published research claiming that Android accounted for 32% of new smartphones bought in the US between January and August this year. That means Google's OS has overtaken BlackBerry.

However, when it comes to all smartphone owners, BlackBerry is still top dog in the US with a 31% market share, although Apple is up to 28%, and Android climbing fast with 19%.

This is a significant development and the future for Android taking a commanding lead in the nearest future isnt going to be far-fetched. I wonder where will Microsoft's Window Phone 7 is going to be positioned from this competition. Its going to be interesting to see how they will fair in this competition...

Parents' Favorite Poster

Simply brilliant!!

Apple is world's second largest company by market cap

It doesn't seem all that long ago that Apple was in danger of going out of business yet now they are the world's second largest company (in terms of market cap) and not too far away from snatching the No.1 position held by Exxon.

Apple, maker of the Mac, the iPod, iPhone and iPad, surpassed Chinese oil giant PetroChina during trading on Thursday to become the world's second-largest company in terms of market value.
Apple shares hit a record 292.76 dollars during trading on Wall Street, giving the California gadget-maker a market capitalization of 266 billion dollars, more than PetroChina's 265 billion dollars.

The most amazing element of all this is how companies like Microsoft, IBM, Intel and Nokia, formerly one of the world's largest technology company, has lost so much of its market share and mind share. Guess whatever that goes up must come down and Apple would need to continue designing the best products with best in class user experience to stay on top. And the one formula that really turn the table for Apple is their way of marketing, Steve Jobs and team are simply the best story teller in the world.

Source : Yahoo News

iPhone 4 - Total Sell-Out at China Unicom on the 1st day

China Unicom has stopped taking orders for the iPhone 4 after being swamped by customers seeking the new phone when it went on sale last Saturday. 200,000 orders were booked on the same day with 40,000 phones with contracts sold.

It took Unicom, the sole official supplier of the popular smartphone nearly six weeks to the sell the first 100,000 iPhones after they went on sale last year thanks to the quick launch by Apple.

Unicom is selling the phone for prices starting from 226 yuan ($33.70) a month for an 8GB phone with a two-year contract up to to 386 yuan for a 32GB device. Without contracts, the 16GB phone sells for 4,999 yuan and the 32GB for 5,999.

IDG's video report of the iPhone 4's launch in China.

iPhone 4 will be on sale in China today

Apple will start selling its iPhone 4 in mainland China from 8am starting today! The new iPhone 4 products will be sold at the Apple Stores at Shanghai's Hong Kong Plaza, Beijing's Xidan Joy City and all China Unicom's retail stores.

Customers who buy an iPhone 4 at Apple Store in Shanghai and Beijing will gain Apple's Personal Setup services, which will help customers set up their email accounts; download applications at Apple Stores; and help them learn skills to start and run these applications. In addition, special lectures will be given at Apple Stores to help customers learn more about how best to utilize the features of the iPhone 4.

iPhone 4 sold at Apple Stores are 16GB version with the retail price of CNY4,999 and 32GB version with the retail price of CNY5,999. These products are sold without any telecom contract. However, iPhone 4 sold at China Unicom's retail stores will be sold with a two-year contract.

Apple wont be making the same mistakes in the past with the delay in launching previous iPhone. I m sure the uptake of the new iPhone 4 will be huge with the official launch. Congrats Apple.