a slightly different direction. “Tim, I just wanted to
pick your brain a little bit on the overall smartphone
market,” he began, appealing to Cook’s professorial
nature, perhaps. “There’s a general view that when 5G
phones come out they are going to be more expensive
due to higher component costs. But at the same
time, it looks like you guys have proven that there is
a market for low-cost geographies, with phones like
iPhone SE. So how do you see these two different
segments within the smartphone market evolving over
the next one to three years?”
“Again, I want to stay away from commenting about
the future products,” Cook replied. Nice try, Shankar!
“In terms of the price, I wouldn’t want to comment on
the price of handsets that aren’t announced,” Cook
concluded, and a little stifled laugh wafted out across
the conference call line.
Finally, analyst Sumit Chatterjee of JP Morgan took
another run at getting Cook to look deeper into 2020.
“Based on the velocity of momentum you’re seeing
for the products exiting the quarter, how comfortable
are you feeling about sustaining growth in iPhone
revenues through the year?” he asked.
“You know, we have a practice of forecasting the
current quarter, and so we’ve given you the range
that we expect for the current quarter and really don’t
give a range beyond that,” Cook said.
Cook is like a wizard. He arrives precisely when he
means to.aslightlydifferentdirection.“Tim,Ijustwantedto
pickyourbrainalittlebitontheoverallsmartphone
market,”hebegan,appealingtoCook’sprofessorial
nature,perhaps.“There’sageneralviewthatwhen5G
phonescomeouttheyaregoingtobemoreexpensive
duetohighercomponentcosts.Butatthesame
time,it lookslikeyouguyshaveproventhatthereis
amarketforlow-costgeographies,withphoneslike
iPhoneSE.Sohowdoyouseethesetwodifferent
segmentswithinthesmartphonemarketevolvingover
thenextonetothreeyears?”
“Again,Iwanttostayawayfromcommentingabout
thefutureproducts,”Cookreplied.Nicetry,Shankar!
“Intermsoftheprice,Iwouldn’twanttocommenton
thepriceofhandsetsthataren’tannounced,”Cook
concluded,andalittlestifledlaughwaftedoutacross
theconferencecallline.
Finally,analystSumitChatterjeeofJPMorgantook
anotherrunatgettingCooktolookdeeperinto2020.
“Basedonthevelocityofmomentumyou’reseeing
fortheproductsexitingthequarter,howcomfortable
areyoufeelingaboutsustaininggrowthiniPhone
revenuesthroughtheyear?”heasked.
“Youknow,wehaveapracticeofforecastingthe
currentquarter,andsowe’vegivenyoutherange
that weexpectforthecurrentquarterandreallydon’t
givea rangebeyondthat,”Cooksaid.
Cookislikeawizard.Hearrivespreciselywhenhe
meansto.