The swot analysis for introducing new product from apple company - Essay Example

It has a unique digital ecosystem that enables consumers to share and buy content such as music, movies and applications via all Apple devices (iMac, iPhone, iPod and iPad) (Digital Marketing, 2011). It is the world’s largest technology company in terms of market capitalisation. The company has redefined the music and cell phone business and the entertainment and media world (The New York Times, 2012). The United Kingdom The UK is one of the largest ICT markets in Europe as it has the largest consumer expenditure per head.

It has a sophisticated consumer base and a strong market for new technology and design (UKTI, 2012). People in the UK are receptive to new technology. Apple Inc in the UK Apple has gained adverse publicity in the UK because of its allegations that Samsung had infringed upon its iPad protected design (BBC News Technology, 2012a). Apple has since been directed by the court in the UK to publish a message making it clear that Samsung had not infringed the iPad’s registered design. Apple is constantly announcing new products with overlapping abilities and at exorbitant prices (Moore, 2012).

These devices become almost immediately disposable as soon as the next device with retina display resolution comes into the market. Within three weeks of each other Apple introduced the iPad mini, the iPhone 5 and the new iPod touch. However, constant launch of new products is not being well accepted by UK consumers. Hence a SWOT analysis would help the company decide whether to undertake launch of a new product in the UK. SWOT Analysis Strengths Apple is the only company specialising in both hardware and software as a result of which it has no direct competitors but multiple competitors for each hardware and software device (Digital Marketing, 2011).

Brand image and global reputation being high, Apple can attract premium price for its products. Apple constantly innovates and adds features to its products. They enjoy a trusted and loyal customer base. Its brand loyalty has replaced the Google brand, and its presence in the music space is its core strength. Weakness After Steve Jobs, the company is struggling with new products. For instance, iPhone 5 was launched by replacing Google Maps with an in-house version that is full of errors (The Observer, 2013).

This has implications as consumers feel that Apple has lost its direction and under the new leadership is capable of producing substandard products. Apple had expected that the halo effect of iPod would help them capture the PC market, but they have a very small share of the PC market. Additionally, some hacker attacks on Mac damaged its reputation as a virus-free alternative to Windows. Because of its low share on the PC market, it has not been able to penetrate the gaming market. Now Samsung has doubled its share of PC tablets which resulted in Apple’s share sliding by eight percent (BBC News, 2013).

Opportunities The tech savvy consumers in the UK present opportunities for Apple to launch new products. They are receptive to new technology and new products. For instance, Apple intends to launch internet-enabled televisions, but this will require perfect execution to succeed in the UK market (The Observer, 2013). The PR market is still huge, and Apple could consider selling its Mac OS to other PC makers.