Text Size

iPod platform rivals mobile phones

updated 09:25 am EST, Tue March 14, 2006

Wireless iPods coming?

A new report from UK-based research firm Generator says that Apple's iPod business could soon put second-tier mobile phone makers in the shade. The report says that Apple could ship as much as $4.2 billion in wireless iPods (WiPods) by 2010. "A lot of people don't realise that Apple's iPod business is already bigger than Sony Ericsson. What's more, Apple is the market leader in a growth market while Sony Ericsson is a second-tier player in a mature industry," explains Andrew Sheehy, Research Director at Generator. The report says that Apple's growing industry and volume of shipments allows it to negotiate competitive deals with traditional mobile phone suppliers, such as miniature cameras, video recorders and wireless modems.

"Things change when you're buying in that sort of volume. A lot of people who supply components for use in mobile handsets are licking their chops right now: there's lots of new business up for grabs and we know that people are talking to Apple right now about doing this," says Sheehy.

Although Wi-Fi modems could be used instead, the report explains that the best way to implement a WiPod would be via wholesale data agreements with one mobile operator in each iTunes market. Apart from being able to take pictures and shoot movies with their WiPod, users could wirelessly publish their self-generated digital content on iTunes.

"The mobile content side is interesting but you could also offer knock-out voice service with this approach - Apple could offer free WiPod to WiPod calls, using a Skype-like software application. A lot of people in the mobile industry will be worried when this starts happening," cautions Sheehy.

The 10-page report is available for £90.

 
Previous Comments

WiPod to WiPod

03/14, 10:38am reply

That sounds very interesting. So long as you could still dial other numbers, it would make having a regular phone a total waste of time and money. Can you imagine the fight from the phone companies to be the one Apple chooses and then the fight by the rest to try and stop it?

beeble

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Mar 2004

0

what fight?

03/14, 01:12pm reply

Cingular for the USA, because they're the wireless monopoly here. They'd probably go O2/Tmobile for abroad.

I'd like to see a device with a REMOVABLE BATTERY before I'd even consider it.

ibugv4

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jun 2003

0

but remember....

03/14, 01:19pm reply

... the iPod will fail because it has no ecosystem that supports it. :-)

ZinkDifferent

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jan 2005

0

Cingular

03/14, 01:23pm reply

Cingular is hardly a wireless monopoly in the United States. They are the largest provider, but closely followed by Verizon, along with Sprint, T-mobile, and a handful of others. Competition in wireless is pretty strong.

jimothy

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2000

0

cingular sucks a**

03/14, 03:07pm reply

avoid them. T-Mobile is the best and that's not just me talking, many of my friends had cingular and hated them

climacs

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2001

0

"wipod"

03/14, 06:05pm reply

That's a great term - WiPod. Apple should TM that one.

kw99

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 2001

0

Skype on WiFi/WiMax-iPods

03/15, 02:13am reply

Put Skype on WiMax iPods and integrate a GPS system.

ChristianGalli

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Apr 2001

0

Popular News