China Mobile started taking reservations for iphone then took the site down saying they didn't have a deal yet .....getting close. That should be worth about 10 million phones when/if it gets done? http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2013/12/02/apple-china-mobile-suzhou/ also, http://blogs.marketwatch.com/behindthestorefront/2013/12/02/apples-ipad-is-the-black-friday-winner/ more... http://allthingsd.com/20131203/enterprise-still-grabbing-the-ipads-out-of-apples-hands/

Apple's new acquisition ..... Twitter Search, Monitoring, & Analytics | Topsy.com

seems to be conflicting reports if Apple has a deal or not with China Mobile. Stock was up after hours....

Seems to be confirmed now. 700mm potential iPhone users.

Seems to not be confirmed...this was posted less than 2 hours ago:

Apple Inc and China Mobile Ltd ‘still negotiating’ long-awaited iPhone deal | Financial Post

What's odd is that China Mobile Ltd. has been advertising the iPhone already for several days. So it's likely a matter of time.

Supply Chain Performance Points to Blockbuster Holiday Quarter for Apple - Mac Rumors

This train ain't gonna stop till everyone on the planet has an iPhone and iPad. Next, it will the iTV and iWatch.

Guess an iDrone is inevitable :D

What about an iCar and an iHouse?

Honda Boosts iOS Car Integration with New HondaLink Services for 2014 Civic, 2015 Fit - Mac Rumors

Nest Mobile Gets Update With Redesign, Nest Protect Compatibility - Mac Rumors

Gettin' there.

I can turn on/off lights, play music, control my Nest, watch my Dropcams (with motion and sound alerts), open/shut my garage door all with my iPhone. Soon to be adding an August Smart Lock to control access to the front door. Very interesting times.

Hmm....that's not a bad iDea ;)

One issue I see with China and iPhone is right now it's such a huge demand because it's a big status symbol, but what will happen when anyone can get one. Will the demand stay up?

Yeah, but the upgrading every 1 to 2 years sucks...SmileWavy

Doesn't seem to hamper BMW, Coach, Burberry, or Apple's own domestic market.

Projection: 68% of US market to iPhone by 2017

iPhone Market Share Expected to Hit 68% in the United States by 2017 - Mac Rumors

I hope you have a good strong pass-code on your phone. If you ever loose it you are iScrewed if not.

I have my alarm system on my phone. It is nice to check the system status and the video cameras anytime. I can set the system or turn it off with my phone. I can see for sure the garage door is down. I just can't see any reason to put my thermostat online.

I truly find this hard to believe. And not because I prefer Android. My sister talked my mother into thinking she needed an iPhone. I had my old 4S sitting around. I took my mother to AT&T and we transferred her data (flip phone) and set her up with the new plan.

#1. My father objected to the higher monthly cost of the data plan.
#2. She had a lot of trouble using the touch screen
#3. She could not remember what to do with e-mail, texts, etc. So this meant she called me ALL THE TIME! "How do I do blank?"

She finally decided a smartphone wasn't for her. She now has a Samsung Rugby flip phone. The nice thing about the Rugby, it is Mil-spec and IP67! Dust proof and water proof! And it is simple to use. Both of my parents have those now.

A lot of people do not want a complicated Smart phone. Also, to be as high as 67%, you'd need to get Carlos Slim's Trackphone and the other "Obama phones" over to iPhone. I seriously doubt that Apple will want to put out that cheap a phone.

Not only iPhones. I tried to by a new MacBook Pro retina last weekend. No one has these things in stock. BestBuy even has the model I want on sale, but none in their distribution center nor on in stock in any of their stores. Can't even get a geniuses over at the apple store to talk to me.

Talked to a grandmother/grandfather looking at buying a macbook for their 8 year old grandson. He needs it for school because all the online homework is now mac friendly. Setting up future customers for sure.

This is crazy. No one can buy these things at the prices they are set at. Imagine what it would be like if the economy was in good shape...

I've seen this with my own grandmother and I don't get it. Its a way of thinking, not an issue with the phone. They *think* it should be complicated to use so they try to make it complicated. My dad has a rugby, and its a pain in the ass to use. You have to scroll through crap, menus are clunky, takes forever to type a name into a contact, etc. With an iPhone, or most smartphones now, you look for what you want to do, touch it, and do it. EASY, as long as you don't freak out about it!

Sid, one day you are going to be looking for toilet paper and there will only be three seashells...

I finally convinced my Father (he's 81) to get a mobile phone for emergencies. Went went with the most basic phone ATT had.

Why? Despite countless hours of my time and many apple store visits he remains completely lost with his iPad. Last time we talked he said he wanted to throw the iPad against the wall out of frustration. Thankfully I talked him down and he's now holding the iPad until I can pick it up. Apple store never really helped either - they managed to delete his account and email, all his pictures, and have convinced him to purchase loads of peripherals (BT keyboard, screen protectors, cases, extra chargers, etc...) Grrrrr.

When the very last person in the world buys one, I'll let you know how I like it ;)

Java, you can use a deactivated phone to call 911. No need for a plan.

I hope that's a long way off...I'll be in my iGrave if you're the one :D

I would think these smartphones would be marketed to the emerging market, i.e., not retirees. For them, there's the jitterbug.

My 80 year old father had a iPhone and iPad and used them with no issues. My MIL has both and loves her iPad. It is not just age, it is a mindset. My wife's grandmother refused to get a VCR because "she did not want anything that complex."

My mother is 78 years young, she has an iPad, iPhone ,Apple Tv, she knows how to stream media from her devices to her tv an sound system. She has built her own web page (using templates) blogs, downloads, uses photoshop...

Granted my brothers and I have given her a lot of help, she embraces the tech... my nieces think she is to cool for school...

She is a geek and she loves technology...

This

Confirmed: China Mobile to Officially Begin iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c Sales on January 17 - Mac Rumors

Tomorrow's market activity should be interesting.

edited: Motion beat me to it, lol Just in time for the Chinese New Year....

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/i...Gx2aVfbGnTr04g

You mean I might finally break even? :eek:

ianb

At 7 AM ET it is up 20 pts in pre-market.

Would now be a good time to sell my mint condition iPhone 4 - 32 Gig? It has been sitting in my closet for a year since I bought my 5. I really don't need the 4.

As long as people upgrade every 1-2 years, APPL will do fine.

Sherwood

Every 1-2 years??

Isn't more like 1-2 months ....



.

Apple’s Q1 FY14 earnings release will come after the bell (right around 4:30pm Eastern) on Monday, January 27, 2014.
Afterwards, the company will conduct a conference call with analysts to discuss financial results of its first fiscal quarter on Monday, January 27, 2014 at 2:00pm PT / 5pm ET.

Appel will provide a link to the Audio webcast as the date approaches.

Source: Apple Inc.

Apple’s Q1 FY14 earnings release will come after the bell (right around 4:30pm Eastern) on Monday, January 27, 2014.
Afterwards, the company will conduct a conference call with analysts to discuss financial results of its first fiscal quarter on Monday, January 27, 2014 at 2:00pm PT / 5pm ET.

Apple will provide a free Burberry coat to every retail shareholder.

No, but they are going to make a plaid iphone.