Steve Jobs has been described as a visionary and a true marketing genius that turned a struggling computer company into one of the world’s most valuable technology company (even toppling Microsoft of late).
But could Steve Jobs final legacy and creative brilliance trump all of those achievements?
Let’s look at Apples market position as it stood prior to the announcement of his death.
Prior to Steve Jobs resignation as Apple CEO, Apples share price was strong and growing however storm clouds were appearing on the horizon with a wave a law suits, patent disputes and claims / counter claims with Samsung and others. Google Android smartphones were flooding the market with predictions of surpassing Apples mobile penetration simply due to sheer volume of mass sold. The iPad (despite creating its own tablet market) was now rife with the new wave of overseas tablets flooding the market and a myriad of other branding issues like counterfeit Chinese Apple stores all putting pressure on Apples business model.
Since Steve’s departure from Apple as CEO there has been a steady slide in the share price that culminated recently following the poor response from the general public who were hoping for the release of an iPhone 5 on only to be disappointed with an iPhone 4S instead.
The Apple gloss began to wane as Apples share price hit a closing price of around $355 (down from a high of $402 of late September 2011.
In true conspiratorial fashion it may now be hypothesised that the new and improved iPhone 4S was release to coincide with the passing of Steve Jobs given his ill health where the ‘S’ stands for Steve.
Was this his final gesture of marketing brilliance to an audience already maxed out on white minimalistic merchandise? Could the announcement of his death temporarily resurrect the flagging handset sales and reluctant to upgrade mobile customers (many continue to hold off until the iPhone 5 is released) or can they be tricked into purchasing the Steve phone in his memory?
Source Unprecedented iPhone 4S Demand
Apple sales soar into millions – Apple has sold more than 4 million of its latest iPhone handsets, in just one weekend. Source News.com.au via TEN 18 October 2011.
[Video] Apple has sold more than 4 million of its latest iPhone handsets.
Unsubstantiated rumours have also been made indicating that the passing of Steve Jobs had actually occurred prior to the IPhone 4S announcement and as such was only now allowed to be broadcasted cleverly at the midnight hour so to speak of the aforementioned announcement.
Secondly, if you just Google “Steve Jobs day” it was scheduled for October 14 this year… yes 2011! Coincidence?
You be the judge. But in any case, if these reports are true, Steve Jobs final play was a masterfully crafted and creative way to resurrect Apples market share indicating that even in his death he was still able to do what he did best and put the focus back on Apple, its products and ultimately its share price.
- Apple.com traffic was up 39% on Oct. 5 vs. the previous day, & visits were up 147% vs. previous Wednesday
- Records to date, for tweets per second (TPS), as peak times, as has been reported by Twitter to date:
- 8,868 TPS: Beyonce/MTV Video Music Awards (Aug. 28, 2011)
- 7,196 TPS: Brazil eliminated from Copa America (July 17, 2011)
- 6, 939 TPS: New Year’s Eve 2011 (Dec. 31, 2010)
- 6,049 TPS: Steve Jobs death (Oct. 5, 2011)
- 5,530 TPS: Japanese Earthquake & Tsunami (March 11, 2011)
- 5,500 TPS: East Coast Earthquake (Aug. 23, 2011)
- 5,106 TPS: Osama bin Laden killed, at peak (May 1, 2011)
- 4,064 TPS: Super Bowl 2011 (Feb. 5, 2011)
- 3,966 TPS: Royal Wedding (at 4pm UK time)
Author: brad forster
