Essay - Apple Computer SWOT Analysis Apple Competitive SWOT Analysis SWOT Table...

Apple Computer SWOT Analysis

APPLE COMPETITIVE SWOT ANALYSIS

SWOT Table

Strengths:

***** high level of consistent innovation as a company

High ***** of integration between all products, ensuring a ********** high level of customer satisfaction

Dominant global leader in MP3 player sales and DRM music distribution leading global brand

***** loyalty and commitment from its customer base

Opportunities:

SmartPhones

Technology innovation in operat*****g systems

Growing MP3 player Market

Growing PC ***** peripherals markets

Weaknesses:

High ***** of dependency on outside suppliers and its supply chain in general

Beg*****ning to rely on price as the only product differentiator on iPods

***** to launch ***** products with the same intensity ***** focus as ********** have in the past

Legal costs and distractions ***** the SEC

*****:

Intensify*****g ***** competition in key segments *****cluding ***** players and low-end systems

Shortages of processors as *****y share production ***** this key component with IBM

***** litigation ***** ***** the long-term effects of this on profitability and their brand

SWOT Discussion

*****

Apple's successes have been first due to the high level of innovation they bring to ***** ***** and services, as evidenced by the exponential growth of the iPod ***** associated accessories, music and third-party products. The *****'s unique approach to designing and marketing personal computers has created a ***** and highly differentiated brand image, and this is one ***** the company's greatest strengths. A second major strength of the company its deliberate attempt ***** create very high levels of ***** between ***** products, regardless of the market focus of each one. This ***** been especially valuable as ********** has moved to a *****ship position in the digital media player market, and the rapid growth of iTunes as well. This integrative nature of ***** product strategy began at the s*****tware application level and has progressed to networking protocols ***** graphics standards. ***** approach to a highly integr*****ted ***** line assists Apple in minimizing risks of one single product dominating *****ir product *****, and also opens up many opportunities for cross-selling ***** up-selling the ***** related *****s. Another key strength of the company is the library of media content and the exponential ***** that has occurred in downloads. Just three years ago ***** month, February, 2006 ***** surpassed the impressive milestone of having 1 billion songs downloaded from the ***** on***** store. iTunes has over 2 million songs online, over 36,000 podcasts, ***** over 18,000 audio books. Th***** strong content base, the excellent partnerships that Apple ***** created ***** auto manufacturers o include iPod links into their auto designs, and the integrative nature ***** their products have all led to digital ***** becoming a m*****jor proportion of Apple's revenues (Apple Inves*****r Relations, 2009).

*****

For all their ***** in innovation, product design, and digital media *****, ***** also has several weaknesses, which are briefly discussed here. First, there is the high level of ***** ***** company has on key components, and this has only be accentuated by the success of ***** ***** and the need *****