Prompt One

Technology evolves rapidly in today's world. A product I am most familiar with is an android digital television box. The gadget converts a digital television to an android device. Digital television can perform all functions that we enjoy on our mobile phones. It can also connect to the internet and can be used to access different websites and social media platforms.

The first stage of the android box's life cycle is a product's introduction. The android TV box was introduced in 2014 to incorporate Google's android technology in television sets. The company identified an opportunity in the market with the success of the android software platform in mobile devices. The product has grown over the past few years, with households getting internet connectivity. The devices are also cheap as compared to Smart televisions, which have preinstalled android systems. Its maturity stage involves constant updates on the device's software, the most recent being Android 11. The devices have also had extra storage capacity moving from 16 GB to 128 GB providing enough storage for large video files

A decline in their sale has been primarily due to cheaper smart televisions in the market. Many companies have ventured into smart television production, meeting demand and cutting down on their production costs. The manufacturers can introduce more portable devices to keep the android box in the market for longer at the maturity stage. The devices can have in-built batteries as phones, making them usable anywhere without connecting to electricity.

Prompt Two.

I recently purchased an Amazon echo dot speaker. The speaker is a smart device that connects to the internet. The Alexa command system can operate multiple smart devices in one's home, such as light bulbs, television, and play music from Spotify. In addition, one can connect via Bluetooth and play their music pre-downloaded

The Amazon echo dot falls under the category of a specialty product. A specialty product is defined as a good or service with unique characteristics that fit the needs and tastes of a consumer (Claessens, 2021). Specialty products are designed to promote a particular brand, and their cost is often higher than others.

In my opinion, the echo dot is a specialty product for one main reason. First, it offers a firsthand experience through the Alexa command prompt. One can command the speaker to do whatever they want. It can access different databases and explain to the user about the prompt asked. The speaker gives us a glimpse of the use of artificial intelligence in our household. Its ability to control other smart devices will be a necessity in many homes in the future.

 

Objective Section 2

Apple is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world. The company got founded in 1977 by Steven Wozniak and Steve Jobs. Most people often associate the company with the latter, having been the face of Apple until his death. Wozniak is the actual genius behind the company, having built the prototype. However, Jobs got credited for many of Apple's revolutionary ideas through his constant need for perfection in all the company's devices. Apple controls much of the high-end devices gadgets market because of its products' unique and sophisticated nature. Its designs have evolved over the decades, enabling the organization to keep with changing technological trends.

Products                                                                                     

The company deals in four main products: mobile phones, computers, accessories, and electric vehicles. A majority of us have either owned or had contact with an Apple mobile device commonly referred to as an iPhone. The gadgets have evolved over the years, with Apple focusing on meeting its consumer needs. Iphones have the best security option of all handheld devices today. It isn't easy to access and use an iPhone through complex security features unless one has the credential of the gadget's original owner. The most recent iPhone is the iPhone 13, which is more significant than previous versions, has better camera quality and increased storage for consumers. iPhones have dominated the U.S. mobile industry through their consumer-focused innovations even though the gadgets are more expensive.

Apple also produces small portable laptops known as Mac books and desktop computers, referred to as a MacPro. Their desktops are unique because they have an in-built processing unit, unlike their competitors, which come in two as a desktop and a C.P.U. Some of the accessories that the company deals in include smart watches, magic keyboards, among others (Smithson, 2020). In 2020 the company ventured into electric vehicle manufacturing. The electric car industry is the next frontier in transportation, as per many experts hence the decision to venture into the market.

SWOT Analysis of Apple

Strengths

One of Apple's main strengths is its brand name. Everyone wants to own an apple product at any given point in their life. The company's logo cannot be missed and has consistently been engraved in all its products. Their devices are easily recognizable because of the materials used and the detail that makes them unique (Smithson, 2020). Therefore few can companies can compete with its gadgets because of how it markets and pushes its brand. Apple also has a unique pricing strategy. Using the 4 P's of marketing (product, price, promotion, and place), it sells its products at relatively high prices translating to higher profit margins. For example, when the company launches its devices, presentations get done by its top-level management, creating consumer confidence in their products (Smithson, 2020). Finally, Apple is highly innovative. The company invests in research and development. For example, the manufacture of the iPod in the late '90s revolutionalized how people stored and played music. The device was portable and had a unique design. It has been able to bring products that consumers can embrace as they meet needs they did not know existed.

Weaknesses

Apple has a limited number of distributors for its products. The company's exclusivity policy means that only a few selected suppliers can sell the company's products. As a result, it has limited reach in the global market. The organization also targets middle and high-income households locking out low-income earners who comprise the largest market segment (Smithson, 2020). Few people are unwilling to spend thousands of dollars on a phone while getting a closely similar gadget such as Huawei that is moderately priced.

Opportunity

Apple has to be more aggressive in the marketing of its products. With mobile devices now getting considered an essential need, it must market its products uniquely compared to its competitors (Smithson, 2020). For example, offering after-sales services on all its gadgets. Also, the company should continue investing in research and development(R &D). Its entrance into the electric car sector means that it is positioning itself in an emerging industry and looking to diversify its sources of revenue.

Threats

The main threat to Apple is the aggressive competition it faces from companies such as Google and Samsung. There are many companies operating today that sell similar products to those of Apple. The company has to innovate rapidly to compete with the rest.

Apple's Marketing Environment

The primary objective of Apple is to maximize its market share and lockout its competitors. Apple rarely advertises on television in comparison to other companies. By consistently producing high-end gadgets that satisfy their target market, consumers offer free advertisement through word of mouth (Darbinyan et al., 2021). The organization's largest market segment consists of people between the age of 29 and 40 years.

Apple has also segmented its market according to demographics and psychological needs. For instance, IPads are made to appeal to the younger generations because of their portability. Mac-Pro's are often used in a business setting as they save on space and are attractive to the eye. The company has set itself as a high-end device manufacturer over the years. The price of its products is generally high, and rarely does the company charges little as such people associate their high prices with high quality (Darbinyan et al., 2021). The company does not also disappoint consistently producing high-quality gadgets. People will thus be inclined to buy their devices at high prices when they afford them. By upholding its simplicity, conveniences, and aesthetic principles, Apple will remain a major player in the telecommunications industry.