Why It Matters
Noteworthy this week were new competitive challenges to the market boundaries of the de facto new markets Apple has created in the iPhone and iPad.
Per the WSJ, Microsoft’s new tablet entry, “The Surface” challenges Apple’s notion that tablet and ultra light laptops are separate product markets with a tablet-like device with its own keyboard to make one device that can work well for both play and work; is it a Laplet or a TabTop?
Samsung’s new Galaxy S III is pushing the boundaries of the smartphone by making it with a removable battery and memory card and a larger 4.8 inch screen. While Google is coming at it from another direction, with a smaller Google Nexus tablet with WiFi only connectivity, per the NYT and CNET. The competitive takeaway is that this market is still very young and demand is varied, creating vast competitive opportunities for differentiation and meeting niche needs.
Further convergence of retailing and wireless is happening as retailers are leveraging their free wifi networks to track users to best optimize in store sales, per the WSJ.
Verizon’s pricing for its new market-fastest FiOS Quantum 300-65 Mbps broadband offering for $209 a month, shows that the rapid proliferation of multiple device homes has created a real segment that will likely only grow over time, per PCMAG.com.
And Microsoft joined the swarm of providers swarming the mobile wallet space per the WSJ, adding more proof that the mobile wallet will be an ongoing competitive fulcrum and pivot point for the overall marketplace.
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