Russia dumps the iPhone, plays favorites with Samsung

[highlander84]

Thanks for a good laugh. I'm not saying Apple is everything. Just saying their phones are reliable and hold resell value. The Apps are the best and don't contain malware like Android software because Apple checks them out. So we don't have as many apps. Who cares I only want the best anyways. Also I don't want Verizon bloatware on my phone...iPhone doesn't have that. Do I care about having the fanciest phone? No, that's low on my features list but the iPhone is still pretty top notice even if it's not the biggest,fastest phone out their. If that's what you want and don't care about resell value...Then yes...Android could be a good phone for you. But don't kid yourself. There is nothing wrong or evil about the iphone compared to androids. I'm just stating the facts.

Resale value is not an issue when you keep the phone you bought, oppsed to running to get the new one every 6 months. So thats a non-issue. Apps are the best? I've yet to have any malware in any app I have downloaded. mainly because Google checks them as well. Apple however does controle what the apps contain and are biased towards certain things. Google is not. Bloatware is a problem, however I can just flash a custom rom and done...Android gives anyone the ability to do with their phone whatever they want. Evil? haha well keep telling yourself that. Apple has one thing in mind and one only. $$$

 

[MilwaukeeMike]

While it's not too surprising that this turned into another Samsung vs Apple debate I think the real issue here is Russia vs USA. I'll bet Russia was none too happy to have a popular American product floating around their stores. They were probably looking for an excuse to boot out Apple, and prefer the non-American Samsung.

 

[Guest]

Iphone an american product? maybe on the corporate letter head, but the iphone is a pure foreign device.

 

[Mister_K]

Iphone an american product? maybe on the corporate letter head, but the iphone is a pure foreign device.

iPhone sure can be argued, Apple no, they're American.

 

[grumpiman]

Well, when you consider that a lot of Russians source their iPhones abroad on the grey market (eg. buying one from the US costs about $600 vs. buying it locally for $1000), I don't think sales are going to increase anytime soon over there - but you'll probably still see a lot of them around!

 

[Guest]

@ MilwaukeeMike

Your argument makes no sense considering some of the most popular products in Russia are American (Coca-Cola, NIKE, Levi's, McDonalds, Nvidia GPUs).

It's more like the top 3 telecomm firms make more $ selling products from competing vendors. The subsidies Apple provides are much worse than what Samsung provides but the iPhone 5 and Samsung S4 cost very similar on a contract on Russia and '-stan' countries in East Asia. Additionally, consumers gravitate towards larger-sized phones in those regions. Apple is losing market share and vendors like BeeLine are making lower margin. It's a win-win for these firms to just drop the iPhone entirely.

 

[Ranger1st]

Yes, because RIM wasn't already pushing other companies to create new products like the modern smart phone already.. well before Apple decided to poach Kubricks set designs and call them their own. As well no one told Apple they needed to patent troll, to LIMIT design innovation and force companies to squander billions of insipid law suits to keep others from being better at innovation then Apple. But you go on and wave that apple flag, I'm sure you'll have one or two I-douche's waddling your way momentarily.

To be anti-apple about these things is...well...dumb. You very likely wouldn't have your Nexus being half of what it is for twice the price if it wasn't for Apple's impressive contribution to this technology. If you feel Apple's phone is over-priced or their policies aren't what you prefer then buy something else. But don't shoot yourself in the foot by wanting to kill the primary force that keeps the rest of the industry having to innovate and keep prices down.

 

[coppersloane]

Iphone an american product? maybe on the corporate letter head, but the iphone is a pure foreign device.

I'm pretty sure he was talking about the company, not the product. The company is American.

 

[Guest]

Yes, because RIM wasn't already pushing other companies to create new products like the modern smart phone already.. well before Apple decided to poach Kubricks set designs and call them their own. As well no one told Apple they needed to patent troll, to LIMIT design innovation and force companies to squander billions of insipid law suits to keep others from being better at innovation then Apple.

Not sure where to start here. You're not a patent troll when protecting I.p. that you're actively using in your products from being abused by a company that manufactures your patented parts. It seems the judge would agree. Kubrick, RIM...can I have some of whatever your smoking? Maybe not, it seems to have a devastating affect on IQ.

 

[Guest]

Love it when the Apple fanboys have to think up new excuses why their phone is superior....now its the resell value....oh boy...

Here is the truth. Apple only has a good market share in America, in Europe it is under 10% and in the rest of the world it is less than 5%. The rest of the world does not buy into the "special" nature of Apple, it is just recognized for what it is - a luxury brand where you have to spend several hundred extra dollars just to have an apple logo on your phone/tablet.

It is now technologically inferior to the top end Android units and is lagging behind in innovation. Android 4.1 surpassed iOS and I would imagine Android 5.0 will end the debate about the best OS.

Consumers the world over want the latest and greatest, the coolest, the most individual, the best value for money. This is all Android strengths. Apple is in serious danger of becoming a has-been because it refuses to give consumers the choice and flexibility they want. Blackberry users used to swear by that brand - they would never switch they said, Now look at Blackberry.

Apple has not innovated anything new since the original Iphone was launched in 2007. It has deliberately held back on introducing new ideas so as to have something to show off on its next incremental release. Its philosophy is anti-consumerism which is why it has been caught and surpassed by the competition.

The Russians will not miss their Iphones. The Chinese, Koreans, Japanese and Indians don't care for them either. The rich will continue to flash them along with their Rolex watches and Gucci bags but ordinary consumers won't care since they will own better phones.

Apple is doomed to a slow demise back into a niche provider because it cannot/will not depart from the arrogant, narcissistic vision Jobs imprinted on the company.

 

[Guest]

now its the resell value

Apparently you've never heard of Ebay. Take a look and learn something. Better use of your time than writing o.y.a. The only way android ever made it into this market was by being FREE. Google makes its money by finding as many ways as possible to bombard the gSheep sticker price suckers with mind-numbing advertisements so you can spend even more of your cheapskate money on even lousier investments than this worthless-as-soon-as-they-took-your-money hunk of thinly disguised plastic. A faster engine is a necessity because the software is so horribly inefficient. More fuel for less mileage in a body that leeches cancer into your warm sweaty palm.

Oh, I forgot, but you got it so cheap and it's got a faster engine.

Wealthy people get that way by looking at more than just the sticker price. Try it some time.