confirms Apple’s ongoing commitment to building the aspirational brand” even at the low end of the market.
I'd wager that a significant number of those people in developing / emerging economies buying cheap Android phones will switch to an iPhone once they can afford it. This is what is meant by aspirational, IMO. As to how quickly the switch might occur, it's anyone's guess, but it's happening. After all, it ain't rice wine the Chinese nouveau riches are drinking these days, and, boy, do they like them Bentleys, Jaguars and German cars over there, which, btw, sell for a lot more than in the US or Europe. So while the likes of Xiomi can claim to have a greater market share than Apple in China, that number will shift in Apple's favor over time, provided, of course, Apple maintains its brand image and cachet. To be sure, I'm not only talking about China here -- there's the rest of Asia to salivate over. Think slow and steady ;-) |
