Apple would consider offering a monthly subscription to pay for an iPhone, with the possibility of a replacement when a new model is released. An original and clever formula to build customer loyalty…
Apple’s big back-to-school conference – the famous Far Out keynote to be held on Wednesday September 7 at 7 p.m. French time – will in principle be the opportunity to discover the iPhone 14 and the other new features that the Apple firm has concocted for the end of 2022. And, as always, the Web is buzzing with a thousand rumors concerning the characteristics and prices of these new technological marvels which are so much the stuff of dreams. geek. Among the latest, a prediction by Mark Gurman, the famous journalist always very well informed of Bloomberg, is surprising. Indeed, according to the specialist, Apple is preparing neither more nor less to launch a new method of payment for the iPhone. It would be a question of paying a monthly subscription in order to use one of the smartphones of the firm the apple while taking advantage of certain services. And, with each release of a new model, it would be possible to renew the offer in order to take advantage of the latest iPhone. An original and clever “magic formula”, which would make it possible to build loyalty – to attach? – customers so that they stay on top of fashion without leaving the bosom of the Apple ecosystem…
iPhone subscription: an offer combining smartphone and Apple services
Mark Gurman had already referred to this information last March and it recurs in more detail on the eve of Apple’s keynote. An announcement that would indeed be timely with the imminent launch of the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro – especially since the expected prices are quite high and consumers are suffering from inflation. It would be a way to make the brand’s smartphones more affordable in appearance, and therefore to conquer an audience that would not normally spend 1,000 to 1,700 euros for a phone, even with the quality guaranteed by Apple.
According to information from the journalist, the monthly offer would be attached – although we do not yet know the exact details – to the Apple One offer – whose Family subscription includes Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple Arcade, the iCloud storage and Apple Fitness+. For a payment each month, the consumer could therefore use an iPhone while enjoying certain services offered by the firm.
iPhone subscription: what price?
One of the big unknowns in these rumors – and not one of the least – is the price of this subscription. Its operation resembles the “iPhone Upgrade Program” available in the United States. There too, users pay each month for an iPhone and can, after 12 installments, change the model of the smartphone. Currently, the subscription ranges from 35.33 dollars per month for the iPhone 13 Mini at $74.91 per month for the 13 Pro Max with 1 TB of storage. A price that will therefore be higher if services are included. To realize, the Apple One Premium subscription currently costs 28.95 euros. In the end, the user pays more than the real price of the iPhone – even if Apple does not charge interest – because of the services included.Another small detail, the customer never “owns” the smartphone since he rents it to the firm – a bit like the Netflix catalog, so he can’t resell it to a third party when changing it…
If Apple actually announces this type of subscription, it would be really beneficial for the firm. Indeed, it would be an argument to encourage consumers to join its market and, above all, to stay there – especially given the simplicity of the transaction. By opening up to a new audience – who will never own the smartphone since they kind of rent it – the apple would find a way to generate new revenue, especially since the iPhone is its biggest source of sales. , with $192 billion generated last year – half of the company’s revenue.