NEWS ANALYSIS
will get a better idea about how many of these ‘free’
subscribers convert to become paying ones.
Also, good news for people who were worried
that Apple TV+ might end up with a lower-cost tier
that’s stuffed with advertising: Cook said that “we
feel strongly that what that customer wants is an ad
free product”. Amen.
Tim Cook can’t be tricked
Tim Cook sounded a little under the weather last month.
He spoke in a subdued tone, cleared his throat, sniffled,
and sounded like he was speaking around some sort of
lozenge or cough drop. But even when ill, Tim Cook is a
wily fellow who can’t be tricked into disclosing future
Apple product directions, even by wily financial analysts
who have found increasingly clever ways to phrase
questions in the hopes that Tim will reveal something
about Apple’s future product pipeline.
“Tim, at some point in the future, Apple will launch a
5G iPhone,” said Katy Huberty of Morgan Stanley. “How
big of a demand driver do you view 5G capability in a
handset, and what’s your view as to what the killer app
will be from a consumer perspective?” Yes, Tim, let’s
talk about your 5G iPhone and what will make it sell.
“You know, we don’t comment on future products, and
so I try to sidestep a bit,” Tim replied. “With respect to
5G, I think we’re in the early innings of its deployment on
a global basis. We obviously couldn’t be prouder of our
line-up and are very excited about our pipeline as well
and wouldn’t trade our position for anybody.”
Not to be denied, analyst Krish Shankar of Callan
and Company decided to spin Huberty’s question in
NEWS ANALYSIS
willgetabetterideaabouthowmanyofthese‘free’
subscribersconverttobecomepayingones.
Also,goodnewsforpeoplewhowereworried
thatAppleTV+mightendupwithalower-costtier
that’sstuffedwithadvertising:Cooksaidthat“we
feel stronglythatwhatthatcustomerwantsisanad
freeproduct”.Amen.
TimCookcan’tbetricked
TimCooksoundedalittleundertheweatherlastmonth.
Hespokeinasubduedtone,clearedhisthroat,sniffled,
andsoundedlikehewasspeakingaroundsomesortof
lozengeorcoughdrop.Butevenwhenill,TimCookisa
wilyfellowwhocan’tbetrickedintodisclosingfuture
Appleproductdirections,evenbywilyfinancialanalysts
whohavefoundincreasinglycleverwaystophrase
questionsinthehopesthatTim willrevealsomething
aboutApple’sfutureproductpipeline.
“Tim,atsomepointinthefuture,Applewilllauncha
5GiPhone,”saidKatyHubertyofMorganStanley.“How
bigofademanddriverdoyouview5Gcapabilityina
handset,andwhat’syourviewastowhatthekillerapp
willbefromaconsumerperspective?”Yes,Tim,let’s
talkaboutyour5GiPhoneandwhatwillmakeitsell.
“Youknow,wedon’tcommentonfutureproducts,and
soItrytosidestepabit,”Timreplied.“Withrespectto
5G,Ithinkwe’reintheearlyinningsofitsdeploymenton
aglobalbasis.Weobviouslycouldn’tbeprouderofour
line-upandareveryexcitedaboutourpipelineaswell
andwouldn’ttradeourpositionforanybody.”
Nottobedenied,analystKrishShankarofCallan
andCompanydecidedtospinHuberty’squestionin
