Y o u r N a m e Matt Albano R e s e a r c h Q u e s t i o n ( s ) How has apple created a monopol y with the release of the new iPhone and how

does this affect the ways in which we live sociall y? W o r k i n g T h e s i s By combining aspects of many other cellular devices, apple has attracted a the majorit y of consumers in the market for cell phones and transformed the way in which we as humans interact. P o s s i b l e M a i n P o i n t s i n S u p p o r t o f Y o u r T h e s i s ( i . e . , y o u r c l a i m s , r e a s o n i n g , a n d e v i d e n c e ) : 1) Apple has combined many aspect of both Blackberry and Android phones, which has ultimately attracted more customers and created a monopoly. Evidence to support this point The concept of blackberry messaging was stolen, the And roid communication bar was stolen, and the touch screen is now as sensitive as that of an Android device. 2) New methods of communication are also attracting customers and taking business from other mobile carriers. Evidence to support this point Blackberry and Androids stock has fallen since the release, apples stock has improved, enhanced facetime, new iphone to iphone messaging, and a faster and easier facebook which now allows users to participate in facebook chats. 3) _ Users will be moving away from face to face encounters and more towards electronics as a mean of communicating. Evidence to support this point _ Communication is new easier with facetime. Users can also use facebook, twitter, tumblr, sms texting, mms texting, email, iPhone to iPh one chat, and call one another. This variet y of mediums of communication allows one to hide behind a wall and mask their true selves. This can be both dangerous and beneficial. P o s s i b l e O b j e c t i o n s t o Y o u r T h e s i s ( o r a n y o f t h e p o i n t s m e n t i o n e d a b o v e ) :

1) If it was a monopol y, the government would have already stepped in. Evidence that might be used to support this CA: Antitrust laws. Acts of Congress in the past. Flaws in/response to this CA: There has not been enough time for such actions to take place. It takes time. More of an exaggeration to prove a point. 2) Blackberry and Android have not been able to change the landscape of communication with the features the iPhone has stolen. Evidence that might be used to support this CA: _ BBM, facebook, twitter, sms texting, mms texting, email, and calling is all available on other mobile devices. Flaws in/response to this CA: Apple has added on to this with facetime and facebook chat that now gives iPhones the upper hand. A F e w P o s s i b l e S o u r c e s ( g i v e s p e c i f i c t i t l e s / a u t h o r s ) : 1) http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/i/iphon e/inde x.html (online feed of iphone news published by the new york times) (New iPhone arrives; Rivals beware by David Pouge) 2) http://money.cnn.com/2011/10/04/technology /apple_iphone_5/index.htm (Apples Big iPhone by David Goldman) 3) Socialnomics: How Social Media Transforms the Way We Live and Do Business By Erik Qualman

Apple has emerged as the most innovative company in the world over the past decade through their avant-garde approach to technology. What originally began as a business focused on MP3 players music sales has blossomed into a corporation that sells an attractive array of all types of electronic devices. Along its revolutionary path, Apple truly innovated the market for cellular devices through the creation and evolution of the iPhone. With the recent release of the iPhone 4S and iOS 5 software, the companys true creativity was displayed and confirmed by widespread sales throughout the country. Due to Apples immense market power and widespread popularity, the revolutionary iOS 5 software as well as future iPhone products is rapidly transforming communication mediums and thus also transforming human relationships. With new programs that facilitate and improve communication means, Apple has increased its sales and now controls far more of the consumer population than it once did. This leaves the population vulnerable to the lifestyle changes these Apple innovations created whether it was intended or not. Apple has also managed to gain market control by mimicking programs and applications used by competitors, thus diminishing their competitors advantages and creating a miniature monopoly in the market for cellular devices. This control over consumers further threatens to alter current communication as well as causing numerous technological changes throughout the world. Finally, Apples future is equally as bright as it past with numerous innovative products on the horizon. With this expansion and innovation, new communication means will be established as a result of looming software and software improvements and thus, further alter the world as a whole. Despite foreign sales issues and new leadership, Apples innovative approach to communication has and will continue to transform the way human beings behave and interact.

The oIS 5 software incorporates new means of communication that attracts customers of all age, gender, and occupation. Firstly, the continuation and improvement of FaceTime as a medium of communication transforms mobile communication by allowing face to face encounters via cellular devices. In fact, the new FaceTiming software further extends users communication ability in that it is capable of video chatting with other non-cellular Apple products including the Ipad, MacBook, and other devices that operate off of WiFi connection. According to Apple, the product allows one to be there in person even when youre not.1 Because of this, many businessmen will make the switch to the iPhone in order to facilitate deals and cut down on travel fares. Along these lines, oIS 5 users are able to communicate over Facebook with new and extended features exclusive to the software. With the addition of mobile Facebook chatting abilities, iPhone users are now able to contact Facebook friends as well without the use of a computer. In the opinion of Nick ONeill, a technology analyst for All Facebook, this is a big deal because you will have instant access to all of your friends who are on Facebook.2 This improvement in Apple software is sure to attract social networking gurus of all ages and further boost Apples sale of the product. Finally, the addition of iMessaging to the lineup of communication options further improves the new iPhone software. This application allows Apple users to communicate in a manner similar to SMS texting. However, the software does add numerous advantages to the traditional form of communication. According to Apple: With iMessage, as soon as your message appears on a friends iOS device, youll get a delivery receipt letting you

1 2

http://www.apple.com/iphone/built-in-apps/facetime.html http://www.allfacebook.com/new-facebook-iphone-app-includes-chat-2008-07

know it went through. And see when someone is in the middle of typing out a reply.3 As if the above benefits were not enough, the service is free through Wifi connection: another feature built into the oIS 5 software. In this way, Apple has offered a user friendly means of communication between fellow Apple users which not only enhances use of the product, but attracts customers as well. Through the innovation of the oIS 5 software and the iPhone 4S, Apple has slowly seized control of the market for cellular devices from competitors such as Android and Blackberry. Apples revolution of communication mediums has inevitably changed the way in which humans interact by furthering the process of extinction of face-to-face encounters and moving more towards the newest technology. Firstly, the enhancements made to the FaceTime software threaten to kill off face-to-face meetings that humans have been accustomed to since the dawn of man. The new software facilitates long distance communication between users by providing a visual image to go along with the audible portion. Because of this revolution in communication technology, business trips will soon be replaced by advanced FaceTime software, saving companies and individuals millions of dollars in the process. However, even more so of a pressing issue this revolutionary application carries is the threat of the end of placing calls. Due to the obvious advantages of video chatting over simple audible communication, particularly due to the mobile access of such program, consumers will turn to the superior medium and soon neglect phone calls. Similar to this problem, mobile Facebook chat threatens to replace SMS texting due to the advantages it offers and thus, altering the way in which humans communicate on a daily basis. Nick ONeill, an analyst for All Facebook, brings

http://www.apple.com/iphone/built-in-apps/messages.html

this issue into debate when he asks: Does this spell the death of SMS?4 This expansion of Facebook capabilities on the iPhone may indeed transform our system of mobile communication. Costly and mundane SMS messaging may indeed become replaced by this free alternative. Although a little extreme, computers may also become obsolete as a result of new mobile browsing capabilities. Thus, the new Facebook perks threaten to transform the manner in which humans interact. Although ONeill addressed the effects of Facebook chat on SMS texting, his focus on the end of SMS texting coincides with the threat that iMessaging poses to it. This application, which copies many features from Blackberry Messaging, is far more advanced than SMS texting and offers new perks that are sure to eliminate SMS texting for Apple users in the foreseeable future. And, with more customers purchasing the iPhone after the new release of the software, this movement is sure to have a widespread effect on the manner in which the population communicates. Due to Apples growing market power and widespread control over consumers as well as the enticing communication perks the iOS 5 software offers, mobile communication is transforming as old mediums become obsolete. Although it is apparent that Apple has transformed the cellular device industry, many will argue that Apple poses less of a threat than I have highlighted throughout my argument. Firstly, with the recent death of the iconic Steve Jobs, many argue that Apples future is grim and disappointing. This coupled with the fact that Apples stock fell 5% during after-hour trading merely moments after his death seems decently convincing that this will certainly be the case.5 To add to this, since rejoining Apple in

http://www.allfacebook.com/new-facebook-iphone-app-includes-chat-2008-07 "AAPL: Summary for Apple Inc.- Yahoo! Finance". Finance.yahoo.com. January 2, 2007. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
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1997 as the CEO, Steve Jobs increased Apples stock by 9000%.6 However, according to an Apple Insider interviewed by financial analyst Anthony John Agnello, Jobss death has had little impact on recent iPhone sales. In fact, as of Novermber 7th, 2011, a month after the death of Steve Jobs, 85% have reported being out of stock of the new iPhone 4S and have resorted to referring the mass crowd of consumers to shop online for the device.7 As tragic as Jobss death was, his company has faired fine without him. Some also argue that recent programs added to the iPhone and oIS 5 software is not influential enough to change lifestyles and that such a claim is an exaggeration.

iPhone 4=flop, popularity and efficiency iPhone 5 is not as innovative as advertised, state improvements international sales limited by copyright laws, Apple working on solving issue Such lifestyle changes are normal, may be true however seclusion is encouraged and personality will deteriorate

Despite the death of the public icon Steve Jobs, Apple has continued to strive for excellence and innovate the technological world under the leadership of Tim Cook. With the attractive features of the new oIS 5 software as well as the anticipation and appeal of the iPhone 5, Apples future appears promising. As a result of the numerous advantages offered by Apple, customers are rapidly switched allegiances from former cell phone companies to the previously mentioned corporation. With such a large consumer base,

6 7

www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/oct/06/apple-stock-steve-jobs

http://www.investorplace.com/2011/11/monday-apple-rumors-iphone-4sadobe-photoshop/

the changes enacted by Apple to the market of all things electronic have resonated throughout the world and have altered not only product preferences, but also the means by which humans interact. With progressive applications as well as unmatched operating speed and efficiency, the iPhone has indeed gained fans since the release of the iPhone 4S and iOS 5 software. Yet, although this may appear beneficial to consumers, what is to stop Apple from further innovating its products? How much further can these changes sever relationships and hide one another behind the protection of the Internet? With Apple set to release more innovative communication technology in the summer of 2012, consumers ought to beware of the changes such technology can cause. In order to preserve tradition and genuine personable characteristics, consumers need to be cognizant of the lifestyle changes such technology is causing and opt to use traditional communication mediums.