Apple iPhone

iPhone - a line smartphones developed by the corporation. Apple Smartphones combine the functionality of a phone, player and Internet tablet. They operate under control, operating system iOS which is a simplified and optimized version of Mac OS X for operation on a mobile device.

iPhone Issues and Security

Main article: iPhone issues and security

The use smartphone iPhone comes with many problems: fires, security holes, freezes, etc. More details. here

2024: In the first quarter, iPhone shipments fell by 9.6% due to lower demand in Russia and China

The sales crash is due to a decline in demand for Apple smartphones in Russia and China, despite the broader rise of the smartphone industry.

According to IDC, the company delivered 50.1 million iPhones in the first three months of 2024, which was below the average analyst forecast of 51.7 million.

The 9.6% year-on-year drop is the steepest for Apple since Covid-19 it disrupted supply chains in 2022.

iPhone sales in fell China 19% in the March quarter, according to an independent research firm, the worst performance for the gadget since the 2020 offensive Covid-19.

The company continues to cede market share to local competitors such as. Huawei

2023

Best-selling iPhone models

The new iPhone 15 buggers after opening the package

The new iPhone has already found critical problems, in particular, with overheating. This was announced on September 25 by RBC with reference to the Gizmochina portal. Read more here.

The number of searches with the word iPhone has dropped sharply. Interest continues to fall

The new iPhones are attracting less and less interest. The popularity (measured as the frequency of search queries) of the iPhone peaked on the fifth model - and after that it began to decline smoothly with peaks (less and less) during the days of the announcement of new models.

True, the 14th version turned out to be somewhat more popular than the previous two.

Employees of the Government of the Russian Federation were banned from using the iPhone

In June 2023, it became known about the ban on the use of iPhones by employees of the Government of the Russian Federation. Information about this appeared 3 weeks after the FSB of the Russian Federation announced the disclosure of the operation of the American special services using Apple technology. According to the ministry, several thousand telephones of this brand were infected. Read more here.

2022

The demand for iPhones in Russia has halved over the year. Voice transmission over LTE and Wi-Fi calls does not work

Demand for iPhone Russia in 2022 halved. Parallel imports did not help sales. The Russia voice transmission functions over the LTE network and when calling on the new iPhone 14 imported via parallel import do not work, Wi-Fi writes "." Kommersant At the same time, calls via LTE account for more than half of the schedule in large cities of Russia.

More than 6% of iPhones produced in India

In fiscal 2022 Apple , Inc. raised India iPhone more than $7 billion in, tripling production in the world's fastest-growing arena smartphones after stepping up its push beyond. China

The American company now makes almost 7% of its iPhones in India. This is a significant jump for India, which accounted for approximately 1% of the world's iPhones in 2021.

Apple continues to explore ways to reduce its dependence on China.

Apple limits AirDrop wireless file sharing feature on iPhone in China after using it in protests

In the latest version - iOS 16.1.1, released on November 9, 2022 - a window during which users can receive files from other users is limited to 10 minutes. Previous options did not limit the time, users could choose to receive files from everyone, from no one or only from their contacts.

Apple limited the AirDrop feature after the mechanism was used by protesters to distribute images to other iPhone owners.

Apple has not commented on why the change was introduced in China, but said it plans to roll out the new AirDrop setup worldwide next year. The idea is to reduce unwanted file sharing, the company said.

Percentage of iPhone users in Europe

5G chip development failure

At the end of June 2022, it became known about Apple's failed attempts to develop its own so-called baseband chips, which are designed to connect mobile devices to cellular networks. The American company wanted to be independent of suppliers of such chips and for this purpose the corresponding assets of Intel were acquired for $1 billion. Read more here.

2021

Record sales in Russia

In November, iPhone shipments to Russia in 2021 are approaching historic highs. By the end of the year, the figure may exceed 4.5 million units. The previous record - 4.31 million smartphones - was set in 2017.

Apple begins selling parts for self-repair of devices for the first time

On October 17, 2021, Apple announced a program called Self Service Repair, designed to allow users to perform routine home repairs of their devices. As part of this initiative, genuine tools and components from the company itself will be sent to users with damaged devices. Read more here.

iPhone 13 announcement

On September 14, 2021, the presentation of smartphones iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max took place. Read more here.

2020

Apple fined millions for cheating in iPhone waterproof claims

At the end of November 2020, the antitrust regulator Italy Autorita 'Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM) fined Apple €10 million for "aggressive and misleading" advertising. iPhone More. here

Apple will pay $113 million to US authorities for deliberately slowing down old iPhones

On November 18, 2020, it became known about a new settlement agreement, which Apple was concluded with the authorities of 34 USA states and the District of Columbia. Under the terms of the agreement, the company will pay $113 million for a deliberate and secret slowdown smartphones iPhone by releasing updates for. operating system iOS More. here

iPhone 12, iPhone XR, iPhone 11 and iPhone SE will be sold without charging or headphones

On October 13, 2020, after the presentation of the iPhone 12, it became known that these smartphones will be sold without power adapters and wired headphones included. The same will apply to other models of Apple phones.

The fact that the iPhone 12 will be sold without accessories, Apple spoke at the presentation of new products. At the same time, the company did not specify that the new rules apply to other iPhone models that remained on sale. It turned out that the charging adapter and headphones are also removed from the iPhone XR, iPhone 11 and iPhone SE kits. They will have to be purchased separately. The package will only include a clip for removing the SIM card slot and a USB-C/Lightning cable for synchronizing and charging the gadget.

By removing accessories from smartphone boxes, Apple expects to minimize the negative environmental impact of its activities. The logic is this: if the boxes weigh less, then they can be loaded more onto the plane. Consequently, fewer flights will take to the sky and there will be less burden on the environment.

According to Apple forecasts, thanks to a change in the configuration of smartphones, the company will be able to reduce carbon emissions by more than 2 million metric tons per year, which corresponds to emissions from 450 thousand cars with internal combustion engines.

We are committed to reducing our environmental impact, so we have removed the power adapter and EarPods from the package, "said Apple Vice President Lisa Jackson.

According to her, many buyers have already switched to wireless headphones and have at least a couple of adapters at home, so adding accessories to the box that no one will use is a waste of resources.

There are more than 2 billion Apple power adapters in the world, and this is not counting billions of third-party adapters, "said Jackson.[1]

iPhone 12 announcement

On October 13, 2020, a presentation of the new line took place, smartphones Apple which included iPhone models 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max. All devices support networks. 5G

Google Trends data show that the presentation no longer causes as much noise as before, possibly due to the economic consequences of the pandemic. Covid-19 More. here

2019

Foxconn didn't throw out defective parts, put them into new iPhones

In mid-December 2019, Foxconn, which assembles an iPhone commissioned by Apple, launched an investigation into the fraudulent activities of its employees who resold defective parts for smartphones. Read more here.

Germany obliges Apple to open access to NFC

In mid-November 2019, the German parliament passed a money laundering bill, which, among other things, obliges Apple to provide other payment services with access to the NFC module in the iPhone.

Although the document does not explicitly mention Apple's name, it states that any electronic payment infrastructure operator must provide access to competitors for a reasonable fee. Thus, Apple will be able to charge banks for access to NFC, but will lose the commission on payments through Apple Pay.

By providing access to the NFC module in smartphones, banks and fintech services will be able to compete with Apple, and iPhone users will be able to pay for the purchase of goods and services using Apple Pay instead of a banking application.

The legislation reflects Germany's growing willingness to loosen U.S. companies' control over technology products and services.

We are surprised at how suddenly this legislation was passed. We fear that the bill could harm usability, data protection and the security of financial information, Apple said on the occasion of the adoption of a bill designed to complicate the concealment of property relations within the company, as well as prevent illegal funds from entering the economy.

However, according to the German financial website Finanz-Szene, the new bill apparently has a provision allowing Apple to keep the NFC chip locked. In particular, Apple may argue over opening NFC access, explaining that this could jeopardize customer safety.

A Reuters source close to the government coalition says Chancellor Angela Merkel's office insisted the committee withdraw amendments to the law.

German lawmakers are not the only ones who see Apple Pay as a monopoly threat, for example, Bloomberg and Reuters previously reported that the head of the EU antitrust department, Margrethe Vestager, said that the European Commission had begun checking for monopoly.^[2]

Investing $1 billion in Indian iPhone production

In mid-September 2019, it became known about Apple's investment of $1 billion in the production of its smartphones in India. The company wants to sell the Made In India-labeled iPhone worldwide.

Earlier, Apple started production of the iPhone 6S in Bengaluru in Karnataka at the Wistron plant. To do this, a new assembly line was created at the factory. The SE and 6S assembled in India have long been sold only in this country, but in July 2019 they began to be delivered to the European market.

In September 2019, Apple attracted its main production partner, Foxconn, to develop production in India. This company intends to export about 70-80% of Apple phones assembled at Indian enterprises.

According to the Times of India in a September 17, 2019 publication, Apple is testing new products that have already begun production in pilot mode. In addition, the company expects clarity from the government of the country on subsidizing the supply of products abroad.

In August 2019, India relaxed requirements that forced foreign companies to produce 30% of the products sold in the country at local enterprises. Because of this, Apple could not open stores in India for a long time and sell devices directly, so it was forced to use the services of retailers.

For a long time, the main source of growth for Apple was China, but sales there are growing sluggishly. According to many analysts, in India, the promotion of Apple products has traditionally been restrained by a very prosaic factor: these products were too expensive for most Indians. It is expected that the establishment of local production will help solve this problem.

India's Communications and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad earlier said the government had urged Apple to expand its manufacturing base in India and use the country as its export hub.

According to knowledgeable Times of India sources, Apple has long-term plans for India, but the company sees this country "more like a manufacturing center, not a significant market" for selling its devices.^[3]

iPhone 11 announcement

On September 10, 2019, the presentation of new smartphones from Apple took place. The assortment of the American manufacturer includes the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max models. Read more here.

Half of the iPhone is collected by schoolchildren

On June 9, 2019, it became known about violations at iPhone factories. Foxconn, which assembles smartphones commissioned by Apple, uses too many schoolchildren to work, according to the nonprofit advocacy group China Labor Watch. Read more here.

Students handed over iPhone fakes for repair and received new smartphones for $900 thousand.

In early April 2019, two Oregon engineering students appeared in court, who for several years handed over fake iPhones for repair and received real ones in exchange. Students sold smartphones in China, and the illegal profit they received is estimated at $895,800. Fraudsters used the features of the work of Apple's American service centers for this, according to The Oregonian portal.

Students have developed a very simple, but, as practice has shown, effective scheme to deceive Apple. With Chinese citizenship and a US student visa, they purchased large consignments of fake or simply broken iPhones in China and imported them into the United States, where the rules for accepting Apple devices into branded service centers are simplified.

Each counterfeit phone cost the Chinese about $30, and the cost of the new iPhone issued instead was, on average, $600.

To reduce the chance of being caught, students handed over counterfeit smartphones to various service centers throughout the country and did not come for new gadgets. Instead, they asked Apple to send devices by mail, giving the addresses of their friends and acquaintances across the country.

Students Yangyang Zhou and Quan Jiang, citizens China studying in Oregon, appeared in district court USA after federal investigators from Customs and Border Protection drew attention to the many parcels with fake smartphones coming in their name from China.

An Apple spokesman explained to the court how the fraud works. When a student brought a smartphone, which, according to him, stopped turning on, the company's employees did not have the opportunity to identify a fake. As a result, the company was obliged to provide a replacement. According to court records, Apple received more than 3,000 warranty claims from fraudsters and replaced the smartphone in 1,493 cases.

Customs and Border Protection officials initiated the investigation in April 2017 after five shipments of phones were seized. Zhou and Jiang were allowed to carry out fraudulent operations with student visas - one of them attended Lynn Benton College, the second at Oregon State University.

Apple sent Jiang warnings in June and July 2017, and Customs and Border Protection reported in October 2017 the seizure of several batches of fake iPhones. Jiang denies that he received these letters. Jiang's lawyer declined to comment on what was happening, but the lawyer of the second student said that his client was innocent and did not know about the alleged fake.

Apple would not comment on the case, but the company has long been known to fight similar fraud cases.^[4]

Having robbed Apple of $896 thousand, Jiang and Zhou now risk moving to places not so distant for up to 10 years. In addition, they face a fine of up to $2 million.

The students were charged with various charges - Jiang was accused of illegal trafficking in counterfeit goods, and Zhou will be convicted under the article for illegal export. As of April 5, 2019, scammers are at large, but all Jiang's movements are monitored around the clock using GPS. The date for the consideration of their case in court has not yet been set, and the students themselves claim that they did not know that the smartphones they imported into the United States were fake.

Apple to start repairing iPhones with non-original batteries

On March 6, 2019, it became known that Apple would begin repairing iPhones in which users replaced the battery with the help of third-party service firms. According to CNews, you can contact the Genius Bar - the service section of the Apple Store - or any service point authorized by Apple on the issue of repairing such a gadget. Specialists have no right to refuse repair.

This is evidenced by Apple's internal documentation, which MacRumors managed to obtain through three sources at once. The changes came into force on February 28, 2019 and concern service centers around the world. Prior to this, specialists from Genius Bar and authorized service companies were obliged to refuse any service for an iPhone with a third-party battery, regardless of the circumstances of the user's contact.

If Apple gets enough phones repaired on the side to change policy, then they clearly don't have the right coverage or capacity to serve all the iPhones they sold, according to iFixit Repair Community Communications Director Kay-Kay Clapp. Clapp believes that everyone will benefit from the decision, including Apple itself.

If the repair of the iPhone is in no way connected with the battery itself, specialists from Genius Bar and authorized centers, according to the rules that have come into force, should simply ignore the battery and repair what has broken - the display, motherboard, microphone, etc. - at standard prices. If the repair concerns the battery itself, experts will be able to replace the third-party battery with an authentic Apple battery. The cost of replacing the battery is standard. According to the instructions, a technician must discharge a third-party battery up to 60% of the full charge before replacing. If the tabs for attaching the battery are broken or absent, or there is too much glue on them, specialists from Genius Bar and authorized centers have the right to replace the entire iPhone at the price of replacing the battery, at their discretion, writes MacRumors.

For its part, iGeneration reports that if a third-party battery cannot be removed from the device, Apple will only agree to replace the entire iPhone at the price of the new device. If it were an authentic battery, the company would carry out a replacement at the cost of replacing the battery. At the same time, checking whether this is a native battery will be carried out more strictly.

Genius Bar and authorized centers will still not service iPhones that have third-party logic cards, microphones, Lightning ports, headphone jacks, on-off and volume buttons, TrueDepth sensors and some other components.

CNews recalled that in February 2017, Apple allowed warranty repairs in its iPhone service centers, in which the display was repaired by third-party specialists. However, warranty repairs of such a gadget in Genius Bar and authorized centers are possible only if the breakdown is not related to the display. If the iPhone is no longer under warranty, you can repair everything, including the display, at standard prices.^[5]

2018

Dynamics of Apple's share in the smartphone market

Mobile phone and smartphone sales leaders from 1992 to 2018 in animation below.

Assembling India's most expensive iPhones

At the end of December 2018, it became known about the production of the most expensive iPhones in India. Foxconn Technology Group, which is Apple's main contract partner for phone assembly, will begin manufacturing the iPhone X, XS, XS Max and XR at a facility in the city of Sriperambudur (Tamil Nadu, southern part of the country) in early 2019.

Speaking to Reuters, Tamil Nadu Industry Minister M. S. Sampath said Foxconn will spend 25 billion rupees (about $356 million) to expand the capacity of this plant, including to launch iPhone production. It is planned to create up to 25 thousand new jobs at the factory.

Previously, Foxconn only produced phones for Apple in China. However, the American corporation has experience in the production of pipes in India - Wistron produced iPhone 6S and iPhone SE models there, which are not sold by Apple and its official partners by the end of 2018. In the Indian market, Apple focused on inexpensive smartphones, so more than half of sales came from models older than the iPhone 8, noted in the research company Counterpoint.

One Reuters source familiar with the situation says India's iPhone production will help Foxconn and Apple mitigate the effects of the trade war between and USA. China At the same time, it is not known whether part of the production from Chinese enterprises will be transferred to India. In addition, it is not clear whether Foxconn will limit itself to assembling devices in Sriperambudur or will also release any components for the iPhone.

Expanding iPhone production in India through Foxconn will allow Apple to limit the risks of any new US trade policy, agrees IDC analyst Navkendar Singh.

In his opinion, increasing the production of smartphones in India will help Apple save on expensive duties and spur the authorities' desire to turn the country into a production center.^[6]

Chinese companies boycott iPhone

In December 2018, it became known about the boycott that Chinese companies announced the iPhone in support of Huawei. Some businesses and organizations reimburse employees for part of the purchase of Huawei smartphones and impose strict sanctions for the purchase of Apple phones.

As Quartz writes with reference to the Chinese newspaper Qianjiang Evening New, one of the technology companies in China, the name of which is not disclosed in the publication, returns to ordinary employees 25% of the cost of the Huawei smartphone after its purchase.

In the case of managers, compensation reaches 50%. Those who purchased an iPhone are deprived of bonuses and career opportunities. Some Chinese companies cut salaries for buying an Apple tube and even fire them, Nikkei writes.

According to this publication, subsidies for the purchase of a Huawei product in companies average about 10-20% of the cost of the device, but sometimes they reimburse 100% of the costs.

Chinese firm Shanghai Youluoke Electronic and Technology provides employees with up to two free Huawei phones per person, while Shenzhen Yidaheng Technology offsets 18% of the cost of Huawei or ZTE devices. Fuchun Technology pays staff up to 500 yuan (almost 5 thousand rubles at the exchange rate as of December 25, 2018) after providing confirmation of the purchase of Huawei gadgets.

Nikkei notes that by the end of December 2018, at least 20 Chinese companies announced on social networks an increase in purchases of other Huawei products, including business management systems.

According to Chinese media, the Shanghai Business Association is ready to exclude any member from its membership for purchasing Apple products. This has prompted intense debate on social media over whether such patriotism has gone too far in China.^[7]

Apple stops selling iPhone 7 and 8 in Germany by court order

On December 20, 2018, Apple announced the termination of sales of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 in Germany, thereby complying with the requirement of the Munich District Court. He found the company guilty of violating Qualcomm's patent.

Apple said it was disappointed with the court's decision, but noticed that it did not apply to the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR smartphones.

Qualcomm's legal claims to Apple are considered a "desperate attempt to divert attention from the actual problems" that exist in the relationship between the two companies. According to Apple, Qualcomm's actions "harm innovation and consumers."

The ban in Germany is related to a patent for a function that helps save battery power during sending and receiving wireless signals. 

At the same time, the manufacturer of the corresponding component in the iPhone, sold in Germany, the American company Qorvo insists that it uses its own development, which does not violate Qualcomm's know-how.

Judge Matthias Zigann, who was considering Qualcomm's lawsuit in Munich, ruled that the simultaneous use of Intel chips and another Apple supplier - Qorvo - violates Qualcomm's patent regarding battery savings when sending and receiving a network signal

The court ruled that the company must compensate Qualcomm. What amount is in question is unknown.

On the eve of the Munich court ruling, Apple updated iOS for German iPhone users to eliminate the violation of Qualcomm's patent. But Qualcomm insists that this patent cannot be circumvented by changing the software.

Qualcomm won a ban on sales of some iPhones in China, and tried to do the same in the United States. American regulators admitted that Apple violated one of Qualcomm's patents, but recommended not to ban the sale of smartphones.^[8]

Apple banned from selling iPhones in China, but the company found a loophole

On December 14, 2018, Apple announced the release of an update for iOS, thanks to which the company hopes to avoid a ban on sales of some iPhone models in China.

As Reuters reported, citing Apple's statement, the updated software, which will be released in the beginning of the second half of December 2018, should "eliminate any possible concerns about our compliance"

Earlier in December 2018, a Chinese court ordered Apple to stop selling some older iPhone models due to patent infringement owned by chipmaker Qualcomm. One of the patents is related to the function of editing photos on Apple devices, the other is related to controlling applications using the touch screen.

The update for iOS, which Apple will release for the Chinese market, is just about the features that banned iPhone sales in the Celestial Empire.

The news agency notes that the injunction requires an immediate halt to sales, however, according to lawyers, Apple may take measures to avoid complying with the requirement. By December 14, 2018, all current iPhone models are available for purchase in the Chinese Apple online store.

Apple says the injunction should be lifted because continuing to sell iPhones does not cause Qualcomm "irreparable harm," which is a key basis for a verdict.

According to Apple representatives, any restrictions on the implementation of the iPhone will negatively affect Chinese suppliers and consumers, as well as the payment of taxes in favor of the state.

If the court granted the ban, it should be pretty confident that Apple has violated intellectual property rights. Therefore, I think that Apple has a small chance of winning in the end, "said He Wengang from the law firm Haiwen & Partners.[9]

Resumption of iPhone X sales due to weak demand for new iPhones

In November 2018, it became known about the resumption of production and sales of the iPhone X due to the fact that the newer flagship smartphones Apple - iPhone XS and XS Max - are selling poorly. More. here

Huawei trolls Apple after Huawei new iPhones

On September 12, 2018, immediately after the presentation of the new iPhones, Huawei posted a message on its Twitter blog in which it sarcastically thanked Apple for creating smartphones that the Chinese manufacturer believes are no different from their predecessors. However, this reaction is good for Apple. Read more here.

Announcement of iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR

On September 12, 2018, the presentation of new ones took place: smartphones Apple iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR. The first two are flagships in the American manufacturer's lineup, and the iPhone XS Max has become the largest phone in Apple's history. More. here

Turkey announces iPhone boycott

In August 2018, Turkey announced a boycott of American electronics manufacturers, including Apple, after the introduction of additional duties by the United States.

America is economically attacking not only us, but China and Russia, Iran and Europe. Even to Canada. But an operation has been launched against us. We will boycott American electronics. They have an iPhone, but they have Samsung, we have Vestel, "said Turkish President Recep Erdogan.

According to him, the United States "needs to understand what they have done," because Turkey is able to provide itself with everything necessary.

According to Hürriyet, Istanbul's Dogubank trading platform, which imports electronics to Turkey, has canceled orders for iPhones worth about $50 million. Large Turkish retailers have stopped accepting orders from customers for Apple smartphones and other American products. Some networks have completely removed devices from manufacturers from the United States from the shelves.

According to The Sun, by August 2018, about 17% of all mobile devices in Turkey work for, operating system iOS which indicates the extremely high popularity of Apple products among the local population.

Erdogan's statement about the boycott of American technology caused a contradictory reaction in Turkish social networks. Many users noticed that the fall of the local currency in any case will not allow them to purchase iPhones and other electronics from the United States.

In August 2018, the United States doubled duties on aluminum and steel from Turkey, which provoked a significant drop in the lira. President Erdogan called on citizens  to abandon dollars and euros in response and announced that Ankara would certainly respond to Washington.

The formal reason for the imposition of sanctions was the persecution of American pastor Andrew Brunson, who was detained in Turkey in 2016 on charges of links with the organizers of the failed coup.^[10]

Apple completely ditches Qualcomm iPhone chips in favor of Intel products

On July 25, 2018, it became known that Apple decided to completely abandon Qualcomm chips in its smartphones in favor of Intel products. We are talking about the so-called baseband modems, which are used to connect mobile devices to cellular networks.

Apple intends to use only our competitor's modems in the new iPhones instead of our modems, - said Qualcomm CFO George Davis at a conference on the publication of quarterly reports.

Although the top manager did not name the very competitor Qualcomm that Apple chose as its main partner, it is obvious that it was Intel that he meant.

The first generation iPhone, which was released in 2007, used baseband chips from Infineon Technologies. Intel subsequently acquired the wireless chip business from Infineon, but the corporation was unable to receive orders from Apple, as the latter preferred Qualcomm. Before the iPhone 7, Apple used exclusively Qualcomm modems.

In 2016, Intel received approximately 30% of orders for baseband chips for Apple phones. The cost of these solutions turned out to be lower than Qualcomm, however, performance was not in favor of Intel products, so there were rumors that Apple would refuse to cooperate with Intel. However, a dispute erupted between Apple and Qualcomm over royalties for patents. The trial continues by July 2018.

DigiTimes, citing industry sources, wrote that Intel could release up to half of the baseband chips for the iPhone in 2017, and in 2018 this share could grow to 70%.

According to Cowen and Company analysts, the supply of modems for the iPhone brought Intel about $1.5 billion in revenue in 2016 with a total turnover of $60 billion.^[11]

Forcing operators to lower iPhone prices by raising communication prices

In July 2018, the Japanese antimonopoly regulator announced that Apple is forcing mobile operators to reduce iPhone prices, and they are increasing communication tariffs.

According to the news agency Reuters , citing a statement from the FTC to trade , Japan Apple's local division forced NTT Docomo KDDI to Softbank introduce subsidies and sell iPhones at a discount. According to the authorities, by its actions, Apple deprives consumers of fair choice, since discounts on iPhones gave Apple an advantage over competitors, including. Samsung

That operators had to provide subsidies could deprive them of the ability to reduce monthly payments and limit competition, the FTC said in a statement.

To compensate for the losses, operators had to force customers to enter into expensive two- and four-year contracts.

The FTC notes that Apple's requirements did not allow operators to build their pricing strategies, and this, according to Japanese law, is an "unfair restriction on trade." Telecommunications companies should be flexible in the formation of prices for mobile phones, the regulator says. He also added that there were signs of "private monopolization" and "business interception" in Apple's actions.

The regulator, which became interested in unfair sales practices for Apple, did not apply any sanctions to the manufacturer, since the company agreed to revise agreements with operators. In particular, Apple allowed its partners to sell smartphones without subsidies, which allowed subscribers to pay less for communication every month.

By July 2018, Apple controls about half of the Japanese smartphone market, making it one of the most profitable for the iPhone maker, according to analysts at MM Research Institute.^[12]

iPhone will automatically send location data when calling rescue

On June 18, 2018, the company Apple announced that it had endowed the iPhone function of automatic transmission of location data when calling the rescue service. The technology is implemented operating system iOS in 12, which will go public in the fall of 2018.

Most calls to emergency services come from mobile phones. Determining the coordinates of the location of the device in this case is much more difficult compared to landlines. Because of this, the time of first aid is increased. To solve this problem, Apple began working with the startup RapidSOS, created by former employees of the Federal Communications Commission USA (FCC).

RapidSOS has created a technology with which a smartphone, tablet and other gadget transmits location coordinates via the Internet directly to the rescue service. By June 2018, RapidSOS software was deployed in call centers for half of American rescue services that use the technology for free.

Apple is not the only smartphone maker testing the technology of transmitting data about the presence of users when calling the rescue service. In 2017, Google, along with RapidSOS and West Corp, began testing similar technology for Android devices.

The introduction of such technology is an example of how personal data can be used for security purposes, said ex-FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler. The innovation could save many more lives, he added.

Apple's press release notes that the FCC requires cellular operators to implement the ability to locate subscribers within a 50-meter radius for more than 80% of the call time by 2021.

Apple assured that as part of iOS 12, location data will only be available to security managers only when calling. ^[13]

Intelligence agencies will not be able to hack iPhone

On June 13, 2018, Apple announced the closure of a vulnerability in the iPhone that allowed intelligence agencies to hack into the company's smartphones and gain access to the data stored there.

We are constantly strengthening the security of all Apple products to help customers protect themselves from hackers, spies and personal data intrusions. We have great respect for law enforcement and do not develop security improvements in order to impede their efforts, Apple said in a statement quoted by Reuters.

The company said the vulnerability has been fixed in the iOS 11.4.1 and iOS 12 operating systems, which are in beta testing by June 14, 2018.

In new versions of the mobile platform, the manufacturer will change the default settings so that communication with the phone via the USB port is automatically disconnected if the owner does not unlock the gadget within an hour. This is the method of connecting to the iPhone used by some specialized companies, as well as scammers, Reuters notes.

A number of companies produce equipment (costs thousands of dollars, but it is proposed to unlock one device for $50 or less), which allows you to change the iPhone security settings using a USB connection regarding restrictions on trying to enter the correct password. The method is becoming widespread, but with the release of the new version of iOS, the activities of such companies will be difficult.

Apple adds that the upcoming iOS update will protect users in countries where law enforcement officers seize and hack smartphones to get information.

Earlier, Apple refused to hack into the iPhone of the user FBI accused of the terrorist attack. Later it turned out that the department hired hackers to hack the iPhone. In 2017, Apple itself offered police help unlocking the iPhone of a man who shot church parishioners.^[14]

Apple returns $50 each to replace iPhone battery in 2017

In May 2018, Apple announced a partial compensation payment to anyone who replaced the battery in the iPhone during the previous year. With this program, the American company mitigates the consequences of a high-profile scandal related to the intentional underestimation of smartphone performance.

According to Apple, those users who at their own expense replaced the battery in the iPhone 6 and older models between January 1 and December 28, 2017 are eligible for $50. Thus, repair costs for owners of these devices are reduced from $79 to $29.

Apple has begun contacting customers via email (and will do so within two months), sending step-by-step instructions on how to reimburse the cost of installing a new power supply in the iPhone. The company intends to send funds electronically or to a credit card that was used to pay for the services of an authorized service center.

After Apple admitted to slowing down its older phones in late 2017, dozens of lawsuits were filed against the company. Apple has apologized to consumers, and the company has taken several steps to restore its customers' trust. Among them - a decrease in the cost of replacing the battery and the release of the iOS update, in which users can turn off the slowdown of the smartphone and receive more information about the battery performance.

According to analysts, Barclays resolving the conflict, including by compensating $50 for replacing the battery, will cost Apple $10.29 billion - this amount will be deducted from the company's revenue for fiscal year 2018. Most of these losses are due to the fact that, according to experts, many consumers will not buy new iPhones, but will prefer to replace the battery in the old phone.^[15]

2017

Requirement for operators to create an iPhone sales system at their own expense

In December 2017, it became known that Apple asked the three largest South Korean telecom operators (SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus) to create a sales system to promote the iPhone at their own expense .

Three named telecom companies use computers on operating system Windows to sell tariff plans for new phones, including iPhones. However, Apple requires the creation of a separate program for, iOS as well as use tablets iPad in the process of implementing phones. The company wants the system to be operational by the time the first flagship store opens in Apple Store Seoul in early 2018.

Apple is making unfair demands, according to a statement the retail business owner made to ET News on condition of anonymity. The system processes sensitive personal information, and it will take months to stabilize the new solution, not to mention additional costs that could run into millions of dollars for each carrier.

Telecommunications companies may not be able to withstand Apple's demands, taking into account loyal iPhone users and the intense competition among them, said the chief executive of the telecom company, who wished to remain anonymous. "We have no option but to accept the requirements.

Representatives of Apple Korea refrain from any comment on requests from local publications.

Apple has already been criticized for unfair business practices with Korean partners, forcing telecom operators to take on all marketing costs of launching new phones, as well as obliging retail store owners to follow certain rules for displaying goods, although they sell phones of other brands.

The Korean Fair Trade Commission suddenly appeared at Apple's Seoul office in November 2017 to investigate the company's business practices, including unfair retail contracts and high pricing policies.^[16]

Apple's margin on iPhone X and iPhone 8 sales

In early November 2017, TechInsights found that the flagship iPhone X is more profitable for Apple than the iPhone 8 series smartphones. Although the components of the first are 25% more, the anniversary, tenth version of the iPhone is as much 43% more expensive than the G8, experts say, whose opinion is quoted by Reuters.^[17]

According to analysts, the cost of the iPhone X is $357.50. Taking into account the fact that the retail price of the device starts at $999, Apple's profit is 64%. TechInsights also calculated that with an iPhone 8 price of $699, this model provides a margin of 59%.

The cost of the iPhone X turned out to be higher due to more expensive components. For example, Apple has equipped this model with a 5.8-inch edge-to-edge display made using Super AMOLED technology, which provides brighter colors and a slimmer design. Experts believe that each such screen cost the company $65.5.

For comparison, the iPhone 8 received a traditional 4.7-inch liquid crystal display, the cost of which analysts estimated at $36.

Also in the iPhone X case is a stainless steel frame. According to TechInsights, this part cost the manufacturer $36, while the aluminum case of the iPhone 8 cost the company $21.50.

Earlier, in September 2017, after the start of sales of the iPhone 8, specialists from another analytical company - IHS Markit calculated that the cost of the iPhone 8 components is $247.5.

It is worth noting that the researchers of both firms took into account only the amount that the companies cost only the details themselves, and did not take into account the associated production costs associated with research, software creation, advertising and sales organization.

Apple declined to comment on TechInsights data, but earlier the head of the corporation, Tim Cook, said that analysts' estimates are very much at odds with real numbers.^[18]

Start pre-order for iPhone X

On October 27, 2017, Svyaznoy announced the acceptance of preliminary applications for the iPhone X in its online stores. The pre-order model is available in two colors - "gray space" and "silver." Configurations with 64 and 256 GB of memory.

Customers can pre-order a mobile device from Apple and pay for it in advance, or book a device to pick up an iPhone X from Svyaznoy's store or online center.

The iPhone X will be available under Apple's trade-in program. It allows customers to buy an iPhone at a discount. For example, owners of the iPhone 7 Plus 256 Gb will be able to exchange their phone for an iPhone X with the same amount of memory under the trade-in program and receive a 35% discount. When exchanging the iPhone 7 Plus 32 Gb for the iPhone X 64 Gb, the smartphone will be available 30% cheaper.

iPhone X is positioned at a price of 79,990 rubles.

Apple iPhone X announcement

September 12, 2017 Apple introduced a new flagship smartphone - iPhone X. The main innovations are related to the display and biometric protection system. Read more here.

All-time iPhone sales: 1.2 billion smartphones for $760 billion

In September 2017, the research company Strategy Analytics published statistics characterizing all-time iPhone sales.

According to experts, in the period from 2007 (then the first iPhone was released) to the end of the second quarter of 2017, Apple sold a total of about 1.2 billion smartphones, earning about $760 billion. Apple's phone revenue could exceed $1 trillion by the end of 2018, analysts expect.

According to Strategy Analytics senior analyst Yiwen Wu, Apple smartphones remain very popular in all major countries, with the exception of China and India, where the company is difficult to work due to strong competition and the high cost of its tubes.

At the same time, the Apple iPhone 7 remains the best-selling model in the world thanks to its stylish design, a large number of available applications and widespread distribution in global retail, Wu is sure.^[19]

In the fiscal third quarter ended July 1, 2017, iPhone sales reached 41 million units, an increase of 2% compared to the same period of the previous year. The company's revenue in the market during this time rose by 3%, amounting to $24.8 billion.

September 12, 2017 will be the presentation of the new Apple smartphone - iPhone 8. According to unofficial data, prices for this product will start at $1000, so in case of high demand, Apple's telephone revenue growth may accelerate.

However, experts believe that the high cost of the iPhone 8 will scare off the mass consumer. In particular, this is the opinion of Barclays analyst Mark Moskowitz. At the same time, in his opinion, Apple can attract buyers with additional services - for example, a free subscription to Apple Music and access to 200 GB in iCloud cloud storage for a period of one year, which corresponds to a discount of $156.

Launch of a program for exchanging old iPhones for new ones with a surcharge in Russia

Apple launched an indefinite trade-in program in Russia in July 2017, under which old iPhone phones can be exchanged for new ones with a surcharge. The program does not apply to Apple computers and tablets.

Apple's trade-in partners are the networks Coherent"," "" and M.Video re: Store. Coherent The "newspaper" Sheets reported that the program has already been launched: it is still possible to exchange an old phone for a new one with a surcharge in 100 retail outlets of the network. In August, this opportunity will appear in all stores "Coherent". According to a company spokesman, the program will be indefinite.

The re: Store network also began exchanging phones, but for now it is planned to continue the program only until mid-August 2017. Then it can become indefinite. M.video reported that the company is agreeing on the terms of the program with Apple.

Models from iPhone 4 and older in good condition can be exchanged for new ones. The re: Store said the discount on the new phone could be up to 30 percent.

2016: iPhone SE announcement

March 21, 2016 the presentation of the iPhone SE took place. This new smartphone from Apple looks like the iPhone 5s, and internally like the iPhone 6s. The new model replaced the iPhone 5s. Read more here.

2010:50 million devices sold. Introduced iPhone 4

As of March 2010, a total of about 50 million iPhones have been sold worldwide.

On June 7, 2010, the iPhone 4 was introduced with an updated operating system (the iPhone OS operating system on the same day received a new name - "AppleiOS"), which has a number of significant advantages over its predecessors, including a more powerful central processor, a 5-megapixel camera, as well as a video camera (0.3 mpix) and a screen with a resolution of 640 × 960 pixels.

2009: iPhone 3G S

On June 8, 2009, the next, third model of the phone was presented - iPhone 3G S, which, in fact, is an improved version of the iPhone 3G. The iPhone 3GS has twice the amount of RAM, improved speed, is available in a configuration with 32 GB of internal memory and is equipped with a new version - operating system iPhone OS 3.0, which eliminated a significant part of the software shortcomings of previous models smartphones and provided additional functions: cut/copy/paste, the ability to send MMS, Spotlight, Speak Notes, the ability to download TV shows, music videos, movies and audiobooks directly to iPhone, Find My iPhone, forward/delete and SMS many others.

2008: iPhone 3G introduced

On June 10, 2008, at WWDC 2008, a new iPhone 3G model was presented - more advanced and devoid of many of the hardware and software (with the new version of iPhone OS 2.0) shortcomings of its predecessor, at a lower price with an operator contract in the United States.

In 2008, the iPhone took second place in the ranking of the most useful modern technologies according to PCWorld.

2007: First iPhone introduced

The iPhone was first announced by Steve Jobs at the MacWorld Expo on January 9, 2007. It went on sale on June 29, 2007 and quickly won a significant part of the smartphone market in the United States.

CIA funds touch screen refinement

The inventor of the touch screen, an engineer named E. A. Johnson, conducted the necessary research while working at the Radar Research Institute, a meaningfully named institution of the British government. This work was developed at CERN. The multisensory technology was subsequently monetized by Wayne Westerman and John Elias of the University of Delaware in the United States. They sold their company to Apple. And even at the last stage, the state played a role. Westerman's research grant was paid for by the U.S. National Science Foundation as well as the CIA.

Notes