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http://www.macnn.com/articles/08/04/25/european.iphone.efforts/

Apple promises to do better with European iPhone

updated 11:05 am EDT, Fri April 25, 2008

 

European iPhone efforts


Apple's general manager of operations in Europe, Pascal Cagni, has vowed that the company will improve sales of the iPhone on the continent. "We can incontestably do better in Europe," Cagni tells French newspaper Les Echos. While not completely disastrous, sales of the iPhone have been lower than expected in Europe, with France having only recently passed the 100,000 unit mark. Both Germany and the UK have slashed prices in order to boost sales, although this is likely to clear stock in advance of a 3G iPhone.

Apple will improve its situation in Europe, according to Cagni, in part by expanding to a greater number of countries, though he would not name any new candidates. The iPhone is currently being sold in the UK, Ireland, Germany and France; some destinations rumored for 2008 include Belgium, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands.

Cagni also mentions that people will soon have access to TV shows through the French iTunes Store, beginning sometime in the next few months. The move is essential if Apple intends to sell the Apple TV in the country, as there is otherwise little else to watch on the set-top without converting other media. Presently, only Americans have access to movie rentals and purchases.


by MacNN Staff

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 iPhone, iTunes, France, Europe, TV, Apple

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  1. climacs

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    04/25, 11:23am | report spam | Reply |

    they better try harder

    given the strength of the euro vs. the dollar, there is soooo much money to be made in Europe! Apple is going to be significantly missing a great opportunity if Cagni can't do better.

  1. mr.mouse

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    04/25, 11:32am | report spam | Reply |

    Europe

    How about:

    1) No carrier tie-in at current cost or free with tie-in. 2) Full smart-phone capability, like cut down office apps, cut and paste, SMS forwarding, etc. 3) Better camera (like they had on Nokias three years ago) 4) MMS

    I should point out that I do like my iPhone, but it seriously lacks some of the features I had on Windows Mobile phones back in 2003! Come on Apple, do the job properly (same goes for that thing you call an Apple TV - where's the TV bit??).

  1. Avenir

    Mac Elite

    Joined: Jan 2000

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    04/25, 11:46am | report spam | Reply |

    other great phones

    maybe the existing hundreds of other better phones that never make it to the US is a factor? the iPhone shines here because American carriers have had lackluster phones for so long.

  1. ViktorCode

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    Joined: Jan 2006

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    04/25, 11:57am | report spam | Reply |

    2 things

    1) Sell iPhones unlocked. 2) Set reasonable price so Europeans wouldn't be thinking you are robbing them.

    Voila! Sales will soar.

    The rest of gimmicks like 'better camera, office apps, MMS' is good to have, but they do not sell phones, as iPhone promptly pointed out already. Do you really think that the lack of these features is the culprit of slow European market adoption? Cost comes before the features, as Asus Eee have shown, the impact of the rest is just negligible.

  1. climacs

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    04/25, 12:00pm | report spam | Reply |

    europeans != stupid

    I think Apple also has the same pricing policy in Europe for the iPhone, don't they? That is, they charge the same number of currency units in Europe for an iPhone, as they do in the US... even though $1.60 = €1.

    I'd resent being overcharged by Apple too, if I were living over there.

  1. mr.mouse

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    04/25, 12:03pm | report spam | Reply |

    viktorcode

    Agreed that the extra features are not all important, although I would say that SMS forwarding and MMS are the norm on other free phones. However, the price and tariff are the issue. Charge for it with loads of features and no lock in, or make it free with lock-in. In the UK it's either or.

    I have an iPhone, but I'm not typical on the c. 40 million mobile phone owners in the UK. I suspect the rest of Europe is not dissimilar.

  1. zaghahzag

    Dedicated MacNNer

    Joined: Aug 2006

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    04/25, 12:07pm | report spam | Reply |

    yeah price & quality

    Lower the damn price!! It's too expensive over there and it's too expensive over here. Everyone in the USA would want one if it was reasonably priced.

  1. mr.mouse

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    04/25, 12:08pm | report spam | Reply |

    climacs

    Apple kit and services are very expensive here. Therefore more of a luxury item. Also, as an owner of Apple Macs and iPhone/iPod I also find that they struggle to understand the world outside of North America. Microsoft do a far, far better job of regionalisation of their software.

    When Apple start to treat their customers here in Europe with a little more respect, then I think they will do very well. The whole warranty/Applecare business is a prime example, although in the UK we have laws (Sale of Goods and Services Act) that covers us beyond warranty periods. When my MBP battery deformed after about 14 months I called Apple. They tried to fob be off with not having Apple Care. I quoted the Sale of Goods and Services Act, was put on hold for 5 minutes and lo and behold, a free battery was sent to me.

  1. mr.mouse

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    04/25, 12:14pm | report spam | Reply |

    3G

    I forgot the teeny-weeny little matter of 3G. EDGE is not that fast, WiFi is a moot point when you are on the move. My N95 with 3G was fantastic. I could even tether it to the Mac using BlueTooth as a modem.

  1. Will53

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    Joined: Jan 2006

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    04/25, 01:20pm | report spam | Reply |

    Learn Europe

    Aye, brethren! Apple needs to learn a bit about Europe, it seems. First of all, get the prices down. It doesnʼt matter whether you have some tiny, little sales tax added to the advertised prices in the US. As far as I know, it doesnʼt even apply everywhere and where it does, it is not about that much. And reflect the status of the dollar a bit more. Here in Norway, Appleʼs products were lowered a wee bit but far from enough! A MacBook would have cost 5600 kroner here, equalling the US price - it costs 3000 kroner more, though, or close to 600 dollars more. That is more than a handful... Since the iPhone hasnʼt arrived here yet, one cannot guess what the price would be, but they need to adopt to the market here. If we pay that much for a phone, it is supposed not to be tied-in. Norway is a rich country, but people do not like it when they feel that they are being squeezed out of more money than what is fair, anyhow. Apple could sell like hot wheat bread as we say here, if they adjusted a bit more to the markets they are in. And yes, the consumersʼ rights here gives us more than the Apple Care does. So come on, Apple, show that you really want to increase your market share! Listen to Europe and learn Europe!

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