Apple Computer Inc.

Overview

Apple Computer Inc. was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne in 1976. It sold motherboard called "Apple 1" at that time.

In 2007, it changed to Apple Inc. to reflect the company's ongoing expansion into the consumer electronics market in addition to its traditional focus on personal computers.

In 2010, Apple operates 317 retail stores in 10 countries with market capacity around US$371.3 billion and employs roughly 46600 people worldwide.

Nowadays, Apple products and services include Macintosh ("Mac") computers, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Xserve, "the Mac OS X" and "iOS" operating systems, iTunes Store, and a variety of accessory, service and support offerings.

Apple revenue consists of sales from personal computer with its Mac computers (19.4%), mobile communications and media devices with its iPhone, iPad and iPod product families (69.9%), and distribution of third-party digital content and applications through the iTunes Store, App Store, iBookstore, and Mac App Store (10.7%)

Revenue during the nine-month periods ended 2011 came from Americas (35.8%), Europe (25.5%), Japan (5.4%), the Asia Pacific (20.1%), and other retail store (13.2%)

Industry

Apple is the largest company in its industry with market capitalization of US$371.3 billion which is far more than the next biggest competitor, Google, with US$176.52 billion.

The personal computer industry is highly competitive. This industry is characterized by frequent product introductions and rapid technological advances that have substantially increased the capabilities and use of the products.

The industry is also characterized by high rivalry, such as Google and HP, they are both strong and fierce rivalries. Besides these rivalries, very few new businesses can entry for this industry because it requires huge amount of fund, equipment, technology and knowledge to break into the industry.

There are a vast number of substitute products comparing with Mac, iPod, iPhone and iPad but the uniqueness and innovative of Apple's products create a high demand for customers. Therefore, Apple has relatively high bargaining power with customers. On the other hand, Apple does have a high bargaining power with suppliers because its huge quantity of production.