Fans' loyalty questioned as iPhone popularity plummets
Quarter of customers consider jumping ship
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iPopularity is in a state of decline, with "Apple loyalty" said to have fallen for the first time since the iPhone's 2007 release.
Only 75 per cent of iPhone owners in Western Europe say they'd choose an Apple device for their next smartphone, new data from market watcher Strategy Analytics show.
That still seems a relatively large percentage of happy Apple consumers, but when you compare the figure to last year's 88 per cent, it's clear that many iHeads are looking elsewhere.
The numbers are relatively healthy Stateside, with 88 per cent of iPhone owners ready to remain loyal. But that's marks a drop from 93 per cent last year.
Paul Brown, head of Strategy Analytics' User Experience Practice, reckons “negative press prompted by a perceived lack of recent innovation” is probably to blame for the decline.
Perhaps punters are just bored of the patent lawsuits, the exorbitant prices and the drawn out year-long hype of future iProduce? Or maybe the untimely demise of its wise ol' leader has crippled user confidence in the firm.
Then again, blame could always be placed upon the company's "frothing fanbois", who were fingered by Apple when early-2012 financial results failed to meet expectations. ®
COMMENTS
Empires Rise...
...Empires Fall
Standard Oil, the East India Company, Microsoft: all ruled the world and then fell (or are falling).
The loyalty and willingness of Apple fans to spend money has been phenomenal. Couldn't last forever, and the original yawning quality gap between Apple and non-Apple phones and tablets has vanished (and in the case of phones at least, arguably reversed). A more balanced market will emerge.
Next on the chopping block: A certain search and advertising corporation.
Re: Empires Rise...
Funny that my Android phone was bought more than three iPhone releases ago and still has more functionality than the latest Apple device.
...and at half the cost of one of them.
Apple is degrading because of the lack of choice available on their hardware, draconian treatment of those who do not kiss their butts (Press - like The Reg, developers, etc.) and customers realizing that they are paying WAY too much for faulty technology that needs to be upgraded with every release just to be six months behind. Not to mention litigation instead of competition and faking evidence in court.
Quality gap? My phone has not needed a bumper, does not need software updates to stop using cell data when wifi is on or have a purple haze on my pics. My map software works and I have a choice of a half dozen app stores or the option of going straight to a developers web site to install software.
Should I choose to change phones I can pick from a half dozen manufacturers and several hundred models; not two. When Apple stops treating their customers like mindless muppets, maybe that will change. Until then, they are reaping what they have sowed.
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