Numerous users have reported problems with mobile internet, among other things, suggesting that Vodafone Idea’s servers are down. A complete blackout has been reported by several Vi users, who report that they were unable to access any network services. After midnight, more than 1880 reports about Vodafone Idea network issues were displayed by Downdetector, which monitors such outages. At approximately 1:01 a.m. on Friday, April 18, the number of complaints reached its highest point. Only when the volume of problem complaints is much greater than what is normal for that time of day does Downdetector report an event.
Users Raising Issue on Social Media
Additionally, users reported problems with their Vi network on Twitter, with some claiming that the entire network seemed to be down. “Is VI (Vodafone Idea) still in use? The network appears to be totally down,” a user posted on X. The cities where customers are having the most problems, according to Downdetector, are Mumbai, Faridabad, Noida, Delhi, Gurgaon, Pune, and Ghaziabad. 71% of customers complained of “no signal,” 21% complained of “total blackout,” and 9% complained of “mobile internet” problems.
Vi Going Through a Bad Patch
The Vi network problem occurred just a few days after the government raised its ownership stake in the telco to over 49%, raising expectations for its recovery. The government’s waiver is a component of a reform package for 2021 that aims to preserve healthy competition in a market troubled by growing AGR dues, spectrum usage costs, and licence fees. Telecom service providers were given the choice to choose a four-year payment moratorium as a result of the change. The deadline for this was September 2025.
The government also offered telecoms a one-time chance to convert the Net Present Value (NPV) of the interest amount into equity in order to exercise the option of paying interest for the four years on postponed spectrum instalments and AGR dues. Vodafone Idea decided to implement a four-year embargo to postpone spectrum-payment obligations associated with spectrum auctions until 2016 and AGR dues until the 2019 fiscal year, over a month after the reforms were announced.
The indebted telecom company announced this week that the DIPAM had been issued 3695 crore shares by the board’s Capital Raising Committee. The credit grade of the telecom business led by the Aditya Birla Group has been raised by ratings agency ICRA. ICRA raised Vodafone Idea’s credit rating by one notch on 18 April. For Vi’s long-term fund facilities, the agency has raised the rating from BB+ given by CARE Ratings in June 2024 to BBB-.
The software application used for accessing the information resources on the World Wide Web is called a web browser. In other words, computer operating systems comprise applications called browsers, which let someone get into or browse through the Web. Typing a specific URL into the browser’s address bar allows the user to call forth a particular web page. Such a page comprises the information based on communication between the browser and web servers. After processing, the information becomes available as a formatted web page. Rendering involves interpreting HTML document structure, using CSS for formatting, and JavaScript code for interaction with the user. Using any other browser gives you many parts of the user interface that include the address field through which a person can navigate, back-and-forward buttons for returning to web pages visited previously, tabs to facilitate multitasking, and bookmarks to save frequently accessed sites.
All browsers function using the client-server model. In this model, it acts as a client that sends requests to web servers through HTTP and HTTPS protocols. Web data is transferred between these two lines using those protocols, thus securing the communication lines between the user and server. Above all, the HTTPS further guarantees safety. It protects the user’s information, increases the user’s trust, and consists of the major parts of retrieval, rendering, and manipulation of web content efficiently and securely using a browser. Let us discuss the most popular web browsers and the market share of web browsers.
Web browsers and social media applications are common ways to use the Internet. It is quite clear that most people use the Internet through web browsers installed on various devices including desktop, mobile, tablet, smart TV, etc. The graph of Internet users is increasing day by day.
Also, the risk of being attacked by spammers, malware, and other phishing activities, is increasing. So, it is important to use a reliable and secure web browser toprotect our digital credentialssuch as security codes, passwords, tracking information, etc., and other personal information.
Accessing Information: An entry of a URL on the address bar in the browser prompts the browser to make requests to the web server of the respective web page.
Contents Rendering: Processing the data retrieved by the browser interprets it into readable and understandable formats via HTML-cum-CSS as text.
User Interface Features: Browsers also have these very simple tools, such as an address bar for navigating, buttons that go back and forth through visited pages, tabs for many open web pages, as well as bookmarks that save one favorite site.
Networking: The browser uses the client-server model that considers a browser to be a client and puts a request using HTTP or HTTPS for a data request at the server house.
Security: HTTPS keeps secure mutual communication between the browser and the server, it keeps sensitive information private during an interaction.
Speed and Security are key components in the selection of a web browser. Speed determines the shortness or longness of time taken to load web pages, thereby reducing the waiting and giving smooth and convenient exposure to the internet. It should take up multiple tabs and heavy websites without reducing performance. Equally important are protective walls and modes, which protect users from threats, especially from malware, phishing, and eventual data breaches and leakage. The different tools for ad blocking, anti-tracking options, options to clear the browsing history, and many others are built-in components of such browsers, which give more protection and practical privacy on behalf of users. Addressing these factors would ensure that any user can have an easy, reliable, safe, and efficient browsing experience depending on preference and needs.
Web Browser
Market Share
Operating System
Google Chrome
68.38%
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
Safari
17.09%
macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS
Microsoft Edge
4.92%
Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux coming soon
Mozilla Firefox
2.46%
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
Samsung Internet
2.23%
Android, Tizen, and Wear OS
Opera
2.01%
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
Others
2.91%
–
Most Popular Web Browsers
Privacy and speed are the two main considerations of people when choosing a browser. Some browsers require more of your system resources, but others are lightweight. Also, some browsers provide complete suites of security tools to protect our online identity, but others allow ads and cookies to run smoothly. Some of the popular web browsers are given below.
Google Chrome
Popular Web Browsers – Google Chrome
Google Chrome, the top contender in the world of web browsers, had been estimated to have a market share of approximately 67.08 percent as of January 2025. Apple’s Safari holds 17.95 percent. The two leading browsers jointly account for around 85 percent of this market. Google Chrome had merely 9.95 percent share back in 2010 but started improving from then on and crossed over the 60 percent barrier in 2019.
The major drivers behind such an increase are speed, easiness of navigation, as well as links to Google services. Attractive loading time, a great number of extension programs, and frequent updates might contribute to security and feature enhancement. It has worldwide millions of appreciative users with that omnipotence of web supremacy. Not even the countless users around the world matter to Google. Their performance orientation has made Chrome remain in the first position in the browser market.
With a global market share of about 17.95 percent as of January 2025, Safari has become the second-most popular web browser, falling only behind Google Chrome, which has an amazing 67.08 percent. It is estimated that the entire user base of Safari is around 984 million because this browser is the default on all iOS and macOS devices and integrates virtually seamlessly into the entire Apple ecosystem.
One of the main reasons why consumers are attracted to using it is the fact that such features as Intelligent Tracking Prevention make it seemingly very private. The market share of Safari varies for the platforms: about 9.13% on desktops, 24.71% on mobiles, and 35.33% on tablets. In areas like the U.S., Safari has become even stronger with a market share of around 32.1%, while its share in South Asia is still hovering below 3%. These and many others maintain the position of Safari as one of the most popular web browsers in the world.
At this time, Microsoft Edge holds the title of the third most extensively used web browser after Google Chrome and Safari, accounting for 5.2% of the entire market share globally as of January 2025. The rate of usage on desktop computers showed a drop from 12.91%, but it has lost 0.69% to drop from 13.56% to 12.87% in November.
Although it comes as the default browser for Windows, it does not seem to acquire more users due to the competition with Chrome and Safari. Microsoft’s thrust on massive publicity to promote Edge has received criticism and, perhaps, an opposite user perception. Edge stands on the gaming board, but at yet does not have a good leading over the major vendors.
Mozilla Firefox
Popular Web Browsers – Mozilla Firefox
As of January 2025, Mozilla Firefox has a global market share of 2.54%, making it the fourth most popular web browser. Firefox usage is higher on desktops, accounting for roughly 6.45%, but only 0.52% on mobile platforms. It has approximately 178 million global users. Firefox has constantly found it hard to keep pace with the world’s dominant browsers such as Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. Due to that, there has been a continuous decrease in the market presence of Firefox.
However, it couples with a much-praised feature of being very user-privacy-oriented and security-oriented, making it a minor-user attractive demographic. It cannot be left out of the significant players it is keeping among privacy-conscious users since its market share continues to shrink. This speaks volumes about the highly competitive nature of the browser industry
Opera
Popular Web Browsers – Opera
As of January 2025, Opera web browser has a market share of 2.11%. The Opera web browser was developed by Opera software in 1995. It is a freeware web browser for macOS, Microsoft Windows, iOS, Linux, and Android operating systems. Opera has some features including pop-up blocking, speed dial, recently reopening closed pages, tabbed browsing, and private browsing. Also, it contains a download manager and bookmarks bar. There are three mobile versions. It includes Opera Mini, Opera Mobile, and Opera Touch. They released a gaming browser named Opera GX on June 11, 2019.
At the time of December 2024, Brave browser presently commands a 1.8% global market share, having over 57 million active users monthly. Its adoption expands rapidly in North America (3%), Europe (2.5%), and Asia (2%). This occurred because of enhanced privacy features and compliance with regulations such as GDPR. Brave offers services that block advertisements and track by default, giving advanced privacy and improving page load time. It launched the Basic Attention Token (BAT) under which users can earn cryptocurrency for viewing advertisements that respect user privacy. One of its draws is speed and customer-centricity. Hence, Brave is continuously witnessing massive downloads and usage this 2024, mostly made in privacy-offering markets. Though tiny, its share has grown to become an alternative to mainstream ones.
Current Market Share of Web Browsers
The market research estimates the global web browser market at $73.3 billion in 2023, with projections to grow to $125 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 7% over the forecast period.
The market share of web browsers in 2025 is given below.
Web Browser
Global Market Share (Jan-2025)
Chrome
67.08%
Safari
17.95%
Edge
5.2%
Firefox
2.54%
Samsung Internet
2.24%
Opera
2.11%
Others
2.91%
Global Browser Market Share January 2025
In 2025, Chrome continues to lead the global browser market with a 67.08% share, though it has seen a slight decline. Safari follows with 17.95%, showing a small increase. Edge has grown to 5.2%, while Firefox holds 2.54%. Samsung Internet remains steady at 2.24%, and Opera has a 2.11% share. Other browsers collectively account for 2.91% of the market.
The number of devices able to run a web browser is increasing. Now, all types of IoT devices and gadgets can be used to browse the internet. Web browsers are often pre-installed on devices. So companies with their web browsers like Google Chrome and Apple’s Safari which sell the most devices can keep the largest market share in the web browser industry.
Conclusion
Current statistics show that Google Chrome is by far the most dominant web browser in the world, racking up a whopping actual share of 67.48%. Speed, features, and efficiency with other products that integrate Google services have all been factors in such overwhelming market share. Safari follows across with a solid 18.22%, supported by the fact that it is the default browser for Apple’s slew of products and its most secure privacy. Microsoft’s Edge Windows competes with the 4.84% entry on compatibility as its major value proposition fight is so intense that there should be a repackaging into a more competitive one. The remaining 2.60% were shared by Mozilla Firefox, mostly for the majority among privacy-concerned users, though already dwindling. Altogether, Chrome and Safari come together to represent 85.7% of global use, indicating the concentration in the market. The next browsers will most likely have privacy and user experience as the prime determinants of consumer choice and market dynamics.
FAQs
What is the definition of a web browser?
Web Browser is referred to as a software application for accessing information on the World Wide Web. The function of the web browser is to retrieve the information requested by the user from any website.
What are the commonly used browsers today?
The most popular web browsers are Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge (formerly Internet Explorer), Mozilla Firefox, and Apple’s Safari. If you have a Windows computer, Microsoft Edge (or its older counterpart, Internet Explorer) is already installed on your computer.
Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified information on different startups and organizations. The content in this post has been approved by Apple.
The Apple logo is very identifiable whether you’re walking down a crowded street in a major city or travelling through the highways. Whenever you spot a MacBook, an iPad, or an iPhone, you immediately recognize the logo and know who built it. Apple has accomplished more than just technological domination. The corporation has achieved something that many people strive for: international name recognition and a reputation that will outlast everyone alive today.
The company’s tagline from 1997 to 2002, “Think Different,” may have contributed to Apple’s success. While not always hailed as a triumph, it is the result of foresight in the current competitive market. While many of us possess Apple devices, few are familiar with their history. When did Apple get its start, and how popular was it at its inception? When did Apple become well-known? And why did Apple come so close to going bankrupt? However, such achievement does not happen instantly and is difficult to duplicate. So, what is this mysterious Apple sauce? Let’s have a look.
Apple – Company Highlights
Startup Name
Apple
Formerly Called
Apple Computer Company (1976–1977), Apple Computer, Inc. (1977–2007)
Industry
Consumer electronics, Software, and Online services
Apple Inc. is a global technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California, that specialises in portable electronics, software applications, and internet services. Apple is the fourth-largest personal computer vendor by unit sales, the world’s second-most valuable company, the largest information technology company by revenue (totalling US$365.8 billion in 2021) and the second-largest mobile phone manufacturer. Along with Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Meta, it is one of the five American behemoths in information technology businesses.
Apple Inc. produces, builds, and sells computers and associated computing and communication devices, as well as services, software, networking solutions, and peripherals. Apple distributes its goods through its online shops, retail locations, direct sales representatives, resellers, and third-party wholesalers all around the globe.
The iPhone is Apple’s series of cell phones that run on Apple’s operating system called iOS. The Mac range of computers is centered also on the business’s macOS operating system.
The iPad is a range of multi-purpose tablets from Apple that run on the iPad OS operating system. Apple TV, Air Pods, Apple Watch, Home Pod, Beats products, iPod touch, and other Apple-branded and third-party accessories are included under Home, Wearables, and Accessories.
The Company’s wireless headphones that interface with Siri are known as Air Pods. The Apple Watch is the firm’s smartwatch series. AppleCare, Advertising, Cloud Services, Digital Content, and Payment Services are among its offerings.
Apple – Industry
The worldwide economy has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many end-user sectors, including electronics manufacturing, have been impacted. According to data from an IPC study conducted in March 2020, 40% of global electronics manufacturers and suppliers polled anticipate that the COVID-19 outbreak will have the greatest impact on consumer electronics. Another 24% of respondents said that industrial electronics would be the worst hit, with 19% predicting that the automotive electronics category would be the most brutal damage.
Electronic computers, such as mainframes, laptops, pcs, workstations, and software services, as well as computer peripheral devices, are manufactured by companies in this business. Apple, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Dell, IBM, Lenovo (Hong Kong), ASUS (Taiwan), and Canon (Japan) are the companies that belong to this sector or industry.
Annual global unit sales for 2021 hit 340 million units, up 15% from the previous year. With large exports, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, as well as the Asia Pacific, excluding Japan, led to the rise of this industry. During the projected period, which is 2021-2026, the Electronics Manufacturing Services Market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 9%.
Apple – Name, Logo, and Tagline
Jobs revealed in his biography written down by Walter Isaacson that he was now on one of his fruitarian diets. He was driving back from an apple farm when he came up with the name for the firm that would transform his life. Steve Wozniak’s book, “iWoz: Computer Geek to Cult Icon,” confirms this. Wozniak, who drove Jobs home from the airport following that trip, claimed that the firm name came to him during the journey. According to Jobs, the “apple orchard” he mentioned was a commune.
According to Jobs’ biography, he believed the name “Apple Computer” sounded “energetic, fun, and not intimidating” – all crucial elements for a firm that intended to transform computing and make it far more approachable. And, that’s where the logo came from.
Apple Logo
Apple’s tagline says, “Think Different.”
Apple – Founders
Steve Jobs, Ronald Wayne, and Steve Wozniak founded Apple Computers Company as a business deal on April 1, 1976.
Founders of Apple – Steve Jobs (left) and Steve Wozniak (right)
Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs was the co-founder and former CEO of Apple and Pixar Animation Studios. Jobs attended Reed College in Portland, Oregon after graduating from Homestead High School in Cupertino, California in 1972. He dropped out after one semester and went on to study philosophy and other cultures.
Steve Jobs had a keen passion for technology, therefore he went to work for Atari Inc, a major video game producer at the time. He became acquainted with Steve Wozniak, a fellow designer, and attended Homebrew Computer Club meetings with him. On August 24, 2011, Jobs resigned as Apple’s CEO and became Chairman of the Board of Directors. Jobs passed away on October 5, 2011.
Ronald Wayne
Ronald G. Wayne is mainly remembered as one of the co-founders of the Apple tech firm, with Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, the company’s primary drivers. It was a brief journey compared to the years he spent inventing and manufacturing slot machines and other professional gaming devices. He’s a skilled innovator with over a dozen US patents under his belt, covering a wide spectrum of essential concepts.
Steve Wozniak
For the past three decades, Steve Wozniak has been a Silicon Valley star and philanthropist. His design of Apple’s original line of devices, the Apple I and II, impacted the popular Macintosh.
With Wozniak’s Apple I personal computer, Wozniak and Steve Jobs launched Apple Computer Inc. in 1976. He unveiled his Apple II personal computer the next year, which had a central processing unit, a keyboard, colour graphics, and a floppy disc drive.
Wozniak was active in several corporate and humanitarian endeavours after leaving Apple in 1985, concentrating mostly on computer capabilities in schools and emphasising hands-on learning and promoting student creativity.
Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne created Apple in 1976 to sell Wozniak’s hand-built PC, the Apple 1. The Apple 1 was supplied as a motherboard that had a Central processing unit, RAM, and some rudimentary textual-video chips. It had no built-in keyboard, monitor, casing, or other Human Interface Devices at the time.
The Apple 1 was released in July 1976 and sold for $666.66. Only a few weeks after the firm was created, Wayne chose to quit. He accepted an $800 check, which was worth about $72 billion forty years later. Wayne was the one who hand-drew the initial Apple logo, which was later replaced with Rob Janoff’s bitten apple symbol in 1977.
On January 3rd, 1977, Apple Computer Inc. was founded. Mike Markkula, who was interested in the Apple-1, gave the team the necessary funds and commercial acumen. Mike Markkula, the third employee, owned a third of the firm. He nominated Michael Scott as the company’s first president and CEO because he believed Steve was too young and not responsible enough to handle the role.
The Apple II, designed by Wozniak, was released in 1977. The Apple II computers were able to stay on top of market leaders Tandy and Commodore PET thanks to VisiCalc (the world’s first ‘killer-app’), a revolutionary spreadsheet and computing software. Because of its office compatibility, VisiCalc provided customers with another reason to acquire the Apple II. The Apple II was able to change the computer industry by introducing colour graphics. Apple had a genuine office with many workers by 1978, as well as an Apple II production sector.
Revenues for Apple doubled every four months in the following years. Between September 1977 and September 1980, their annual revenues increased from $775,000 to $118 million (an average annual growth rate of 533 per cent).
On December 12, 1980, Apple came out publicly for $22 per share. Apple’s $4.6 million shares sold out very instantly, raising more money than just about any other IPO since Ford Motor Company in 1956. Steve Jobs, the largest shareholder, gained $217 million from the IPO. The company’s IPO also made 300 additional people millionaires overnight.
Apple – Apple without Jobs
As tensions between Jobs and John Sculley, the company’s third CEO, developed, Jobs sought to depose Sculley through a revolt, which collapsed. Apple’s board of directors sided with Sculley and relieved Jobs of his work responsibilities. Jobs subsequently left his position and started NeXT, a firm that makes powerful workstations. Around the same time, Steve Wozniak sold most of his stock, and left the company, claiming that the firm was heading in the wrong way.
With Jobs gone, the board members were willing to decide what type of computers Apple might create. They chose to sell more costly Macs to high-end clients. Because Steve Jobs was resistant to raising prices, this strategy could not be implemented until after he had departed. They concluded that even if lesser units are sold, profitability will be comparable or greater. This approach was known as “55 or die,” and Jean-Louis Gassée required that the Macintosh II had to make at least 55% profit per unit. Sculley hired Gassée to take the role of Steve Jobs.
Although Apple computers were more costly than other computers on the market, they offered advantages such as the UI that attracted customers. In 1991, Apple released the PowerBook laptop with the System 7 operating system. System 7 was responsible for providing the Macintosh OS colour, and it was utilised until 2001 when OS X was introduced.
Apple attempted to expand into new areas throughout the 1990s. Gassée was also involved in the creation of innovative products like the eMate and the Newton MessagePad, with the hope that they would propel the business to an unprecedented level.
When IBM clones became inexpensive and Microsoft’s influence grew in the latter part of the decade, Apple’s “55 or die” strategy failed. Even while Macs had an extensive software library, they were constrained. On the other hand, Windows 3.0 was on sale for low-cost commodity machines.
Apple intended to re-enter the industry, so they released a new range of devices called the Quadra, Centris, and Performa. Because Apple computers were only accessible by mail or authorised dealers at the time, the Performa was designed to be a stocking item for lifestyle merchants and department stores. Back then, there has been no Apple Stores. Customers, on the other hand, were confused by this since they didn’t comprehend the differences among the variants.
Apple has tried portable CD audio players, digital cameras, speakers, TV appliances, and other items, but they all failed. Apple’s stock price and market share dropped sharply. To compound the error, Sculley spent a significant amount of time and money porting System 7 to the new IBM/ Motorola PowerPC CPU rather than the Intel processor. Apple had no luck regaining market share since most software was designed on Intel CPUs, which were cheaper.
The Apple board had enough with the very disappointing line of devices and the pricey choice to switch to PowerPC. Sculley was then replaced as CEO by Michael Spindler, a German expatriate who had worked with Apple since the 1980s. Gil Amelio succeeded Spindler as CEO in 1996.
Amelio implemented significant reforms, including mass layoffs and cost reductions. His term was also marred by the shares of Apple hitting a 12-year low. In February 1997, Amelio chose to buy Jobs’ NeXT Computer for $429 million, bringing Steve Jobs back to Apple.
Apple – When Did It Become A Big Name?
The iPod, another Apple invention, was introduced in 2001. It was advertised as having thousands of music tracks worth of memory on its 5GB hard drive, which was an astonishing accomplishment for an MP3 player at that very time.
In 2003, Apple launched the iTunes Music Store to augment this. This followed the introduction two years before of iTunes, Apple’s digital music software solutions. In 2003, Apple introduced a variant for Windows, and over the next several years, it began moving out to the rest of the globe. The iTunes Music Store was a convenient method for US residents to legally purchase music online; in 2006, it changed its name to the iTunes Store to include video services too. In 2005, Apple computers had Intel chips, allowing them to run Windows. All Apple PC hardware, including iMacs and MacBook Pros, will be Intel-based in the future.
In 2007, Apple Computer Inc. changed its name to Apple Inc. to reflect its expanded product line. 270,000 iPhones were ordered during the first 30 hours after its release, earning it the moniker “Apple’s destiny changer.”
The debut of the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad devices were met with overwhelming success. Apple introduced the App Store in July 2008 to offer third-party iPhone and iPod-Touch software. The App Store sold 60 million apps in a month and generated an average daily income of $1 million. Because of the iPhone’s success, Apple became the world’s third-largest mobile device provider.
In October 2010, Apple stock achieved an all-time high of $300. On August 24, 2011, Steve Jobs stepped down from his role as CEO owing to health concerns and was succeeded by Tim Cook. Jobs died on October 5, 2011, bringing an end to a great period for Apple and a major shift in the company’s history.
Apple, on the other hand, continues to dominate the market with ground-breaking technical marvels.
Apple’s mission is “to bring the best user experience to its customers through its innovative hardware, software, and services.”
Apple – Business Model
Apple’s business model is divided into two parts: products and services. In 2021, Apple earned more than $365 billion in revenue, with $191.9 billion coming from iPhone sales, and $38.3 billion from accessories and wearables (AirPods, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Beats products, Home Pod, iPod touch, and accessories), $35.2 billion from Mac sales, $31.86 billion from iPad sales, and $68.4 billion from services.
Products – iPhone, Mac, iPad, as well as wearables, home, and accessory devices, are among the product lines (Air Pods, Apple-Watch and more)
Services – AppleCare+, Digital Content Stores and Streaming Services, and the AppleCare Protection Plan, Apple’s Cloud Services, Licensing, and other services like Apple ArcadeTM, Apple News+, Apple CardTM, and Apple Pay, a cashless payment service, are all part of the services business.
Apple – Investments
Date
Organization Name
Round
Amount
May 5, 2022
CNote
Corporate Round
$25M
Dec 6, 2021
Trala
Venture Round
$6.9M
Nov 4, 2021
Lime
Convertible Note
$418M
Aug 26, 2021
VamosVentures
Corporate Round
–
Aug 26, 2021
SweetBio
Corporate Round
–
Jun 22, 2021
Alabama A & M University
Grant
$1.3M
Jun 17, 2021
Morgan State University
Grant
$6.3M
May 7, 2021
II-VI
Post-IPO-Equity
$410M
Mar 31, 2021
UnitedMasters
Series B
$50M
May 7, 2020
Copan Diagnostics
Grant
$10M
Apple – Acquisitions
Acquiree Name
About Acquiree
Date
Amount
Joby Aviation
Joby Aviation is an aerospace transportation company developing electric aircrafts.
Apr 1, 2022
–
Credit Kudos
Credit Kudos is a credit bureau that uses financial behavior and data through open banking to measure creditworthiness.
Mar 23, 2022
$150M
AI Music
Exploring the relationship between music and AI to enable a new age of music consumption
Feb 7, 2022
–
Paws, Inc
Paws, Inc., was founded in 1981 by cartoonist Jim Davis, as a creative house to support Garfield licensing.
Aug 30, 2021
–
SourceDNA
SourceDNA is a code similarity engine enabling companies that make or sell code to track what’s inside apps.
May 6, 2021
–
Vilynx
Vilynx increases engagement, efficiency, and insight with leading products for Publishers in the digital world.
Oct 27, 2020
$50M
Scout FM
Scout FM is a hand-curated podcast radio stations personalized with the power of data and artificial intelligence.
Sep 24, 2020
–
Spaces
SPACES designs VR, AR and MR experiences for theme parks, retail, and other public locations worldwide.
Aug 24, 2020
–
Mobeewave
Mobeewave is a Canadian-based startup that allows any mobile app to accept in-person payments with no extra hardware.
Aug 1, 2020
$100M
Fleetsmith
Fleetsmith puts Apple device management and security on auto-pilot.
Jun 24, 2020
–
Apple – Competitors
Microsoft, Samsung, Lenovo, Dell, Sony, HP, Xiaomi, Asus, Huawei, and Oppo are the top competitors of Apple.
Apple – Future Plans
Every year in June, Apple has its global Annual Developers Conference, and in 2022, the keynote will be held on June 6. Apple will use the event to debut its next-generation software, which will be available in the autumn.
Apple is said to be developing a folding iPhone with a screen size of 7.5 to 8 inches and a release date of 2023 at the utmost. Apple is reported to be working on interactive virtual goggles with an inbuilt processor, dedicated high-end displays, and a Reality Operating System. The gadget will combine hand gestures, touch panels, and voice activation for interaction, and it is projected to cost around $3,000. In 2023, the AR/VR headset is projected to be released.
Apple is working on upgraded 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M2 Pro and M2 Max processors. The M2 Max processor will include a 12-core CPU and a 38-core GPU, and the new computers will be available in 2023.
The storyline of Apple’s electric vehicle research has undergone numerous plot twists, but reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that the company is still targeting a completely autonomous automobile, instead of just a technology offering, with a launch date between 2023 and 2025.
Apple – FAQs
What does Apple do?
Apple Inc. is a global software company headquartered in Cupertino, California, that specialises in portable electronics, software applications, and internet services
When was Apple founded?
Steve Jobs, Ronald Wayne, and Steve Wozniak founded Apple Computers Company as a business deal on April 1, 1976.
Which companies do Apple compete with?
Microsoft, Samsung, Lenovo, Dell, Sony, HP, Xiaomi, Asus, Huawei, and Oppo are some of the companies Apple competes with.
Mobile Accessories is itself made up of two words. Accessories stand for the things, whose addition can increase the usefulness of the original thing.
Mobile Accessories stand for those hardware’s that can be added up to mobile in case to increase its versatility. Mobile Accessories include the objects like chargers, earphones, Bluetooth speakers, selfie sticks, camera lens attachments, etc. There are many examples of mobile accessories.
Concerning increasing demand and increasing uses of mobile phones. There has been a great increment in the market of mobile accessories as well.
To overcome this, many startups have been established. Some of them have already touched the heights or are already on their peak. Some examples of them are boAT, WrapCart.com, iBall, Lava International Limited, VingaJoy which is a Brand under UBON, Dizon Brand Under Realme, Black Shark, etc.
Let us have a look at the most winning mobile accessories startups:
Planning a mobile accessories startup is not rocket science. Getting your startup in a good place is also not a big deal. However, maintaining them at the same position at least if not improving is the real talent.
For a mobile accessories startup, the most important factors to be mindful of are market analysis, selecting a location, gathering funds, getting the business model, completing the legal procedures, looking out for different parts and their vendors, and inventory management.
All these points are required to just start a business. Where to maintain a business, the most important thing is its fund or a source of investment. Not all startups start collecting profit from day one, some go on through a difficult way and gradually start getting fledged.
The examples of mobile accessories startups that we are going to discuss, some have seen a direct path to success whereas some went through the hard way.
bOAT
bOAT logo
boAT was first initiated in the year 2015. It is an India-based startup established by the joint efforts of Aman Gupta and Sameer Mehta.
boAT from the start of its manufacturing up till now has been known to make different kinds of mobile accessories. Especially in the range of headphones, earphones, travel chargers, and premium rugged cables.
The other products of boAT include wireless earbuds, wireless speakers, home audio equipment, etc.
WrapCart.com
WrapCart.com logo
It was established in the year 2017. It is also an Indian Startup. WrapCart was made by the efforts of young student entrepreneurs. It is an online platform mostly famous for its wrap.
WrapCart is famous for applying accessories such as wrap fold for mobile, laptops, cards, etc. They have seen great success in just three years.
Apart from wraps, there are some other mobile accessories also available at it. However, this store is available only as an online option and can not be accessed offline.
iBall
iBall logo
iBall is not a new startup. It was started in the year 2001. However, at that time, the initial product of iBall was just a mouse. With time, iBall gained much success and entered into different spaces such as the mobile market.
iBall gained its recognition soon enough from the start of its mobile market where it was known to manufacture and supply mobiles as well as mobile accessories of its brand.
Mobile accessories such as speakers, Bluetooth handset, wireless earphones, etc are available at iBall.
Lava
Lava logo
Lava International Limited Company was started in the year 2009. From the year of its start till now, it has seen great success. It is well established in many countries across the globe.
Along with mobile accessories, Lava International Limited is known to manufacture top-quality mobile phones, laptops, etc. It is a leading handset manufacturing company that has its roots expanded in different places. With handset as its primary focus, Lava is also known to make mobile handsets.
Mobile accessories such as earphones, wireless earphones, earbuds, etc are some of its known products.
VingaJoy
VingaJoy logo
VingaJoy is a sub-brand of Ubon. Ubon brand was originated in Delhi by co-founders Mandeep Arora and Lalit Arora in 2004. From there on, its products have created a tussle in the mobile accessories market.
Ubon is a tech-lifestyle brand that especially deals in developing headphones, Bluetooth speakers, chargers, cables, surge protectors, etc.
It is known to manufacture neckband earphones, earbuds, Bluetooth speakers, AirPods, etc.
Dizo
Dizo logo
Dizo is a brand under Realme’s partners TechLife Ecosystem. It is an Indian-based space used to launch new products. It was started up in 2021.
Dizo is known to make mobile accessories also such as headphones, earphones, etc. Even though it has been started recently, the response received is quite appreciable.
Black Shark
Black Shark logo
Black Shark is a subsidiary of Xiaomi. Black Shark was founded in the year 2018. It is majorly a gaming mobile phone branch.
Black Shark aims to provide a perfect gaming mobile to its users. Along with mobile, it is also known to produce Accessories that can be attached to mobile.
From the time it has been launched, there have been multiple successful products on its list to look for. One of the recent products is Black Shark JoyBuds. Similar to this, many different products are available at Black Shark.
With the advances made in mobile phones, people started looking up to get mobile accessories about them. As the need for manufacturing more mobile arises, on the parallel aspects, there is also a rise in the need for mobile accessories. This need has been fulfilled by new startups that are taking place across the globe.
These startups are either a subsidiary of an already known brand or are a new brand of their own. They are winning the mobile accessories market through their top-notch products. Some of the best-winning startups have been listed above.
FAQs
Is phone accessories a good business?
Starting a mobile accessories business can be very profitable and very competitive. In addition to smartphone franchises that sell accessories, independent stores and kiosks can be found in many shopping malls and other public spaces. Also, you can find many websites and online stores selling mobile accessories.
What is the margin in mobile accessories?
Mobile accessories profit margin lies anywhere between 30% to 60% depending on the type of marketing and product you sell. These margins are promising than building a smartphone that margins about 10%.
Are phone case businesses profitable?
A phone case business is a profitable way to make money online. The phone case market was worth $10 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow 7.5% annually through 2025, reaching $35.5 billion.
One Plus since its launch in 2013, has grown to become a serious competitor to the established brands in the industry. Founded by Pete Lau and Carl Pei, OnePlus had humble beginnings with only 5 employees which have exponentially grown to employ 2700 people today. In fact, OnePlus has put an end to the duopoly of Samsung and Apple. In 2021, they claimed an annual turnover of $2 billion. The quick growth of the debutante company have brought in a lot of attention to the company’s marketing strategy.
Until OnePlus, android manufacturers were not particular about user experience. However, OnePlus observed this gap and decided to play in. They kept user experience and requirements as the base of their products. Their customer services are also driven by this ideal. When the customers felt that their demands and requirements are being catered to, the company was able to build up their trust.
Collective Sense of Community
Anybody using OnePlus will be aware of their strong community in which the brand always maintain a deep contact with. Today, it has more than 5 million members.
From meetings to queries, OnePlus community is a go to place for all its customers and act as a bridge between them (customers) and the management. Another highlight is that, this community is a place of dialogue where the users can also submit their ideas and proposals to the firm.
Increasing People Participation
OnePlus primarily endorsed its products through their own customers. When they became brand advocates, the credibility of the firm increased. Apart from that, OnePlus provided high quality gadgets at competitive prices. As they gained public popularity, they slowly ventured into the social media space where they have immense support.
OnePlus took a unique turn when it came to delivering their phones. To build up excitement and demand, they gave away gadgets initially only through contests and referrals from existing OnePlus customers.
Just as they expected, it created a sense of spurring exclusivity which was never seen before. Because of this reason, every time when a OnePlus products is announced, the entire mobile industry waits eagerly for it.
Generating Publicity Through Word of Mouth
Working of quality and user experience, OnePlus was able to build a very strong customer base who trusted the company. A large portion of their popularity was spread through word of mouth.
Their reach will be evident when one get to know that they sold 1.5 million handsets by 2014 in the international market without spending a single penny on marketing. This is the magic that quality and connectivity can do.
Tag Line and Advertisements
With the tagline ‘Never Settle’, OnePlus have conquered the social media market like never before. Their messaging posts ads had this tagline which was taken to their hearts by the customers.
Their campaigns such as ‘Smash the Past’ have become a great hit.
Through their effective marketing, they not only got a strong fanbase but also loyal advocates of the brand.
Keeping the Memory Afresh
While it is important to give the best to the customers, the time gap between each launch is also very important. Aware of such a scenario, OnePlus makes sure that they keep its memory alive within their customers.
For this purpose, they launch different colours and editions in a staggered manner across the product lifecycle. Since they only launch one to two phones every year, they are capable doing this kind of production and launching in an efficient manner.
OnePlus became popular by revolutionising the entire mobile industry by bringing in quality products at an affordable price. They were successful, mainly because, customers were also a part of this revolution. In fact OnePlus grew along with the expectations of the customers.
Analysing structural gaps and being aware of possible pitfalls, OnePlus carefully steered up the ladder through careful calibrations and tactical approaches to understand and deliver according to the needs of the customers.
FAQ
What is the target market of OnePlus?
The target market of OnePlus lies within the limit of 14 to 35 years of age.
What is the market share of OnePlus in India?
OnePlus has 48 percent market share in the smartphone market in India.
Who is the founder of OnePlus?
Pete Lau and Carl Pei are the founders of OnePlus.
Mobile Industry took its turn during early 1997 when the first GSM sim was introduced in the market. Because of GSM sim cards, it was easier to connect with people in remote areas at a cheap cost. People started buying mobile phones which turned out to be a great success for the mobile industry.
According to research, 1.38 billion mobile phones were sold worldwide every year. The industry took a pace after companies launching new smartphones which were multi-functional in their use. Presently the youth is too attracted towards new technology ensuring that they are as updated as possible.
But the major turning point for this industry was the year 2020 in the whole last decade. Here is why the mobile industry is booming every year and especially in 2020:
5G is the 5th generation mobile network introduced in the world to set a new global wireless standard. The wireless technology is meant to deliver hi-speed GBPS data, increased availability of the network, and a uniform experience to its users.
This speed is achieved by using higher frequency radio waves in addition to low and medium band frequencies used in the 4G Network (the 4th generation network).
The latest smartphones in our mobile industry are launched with 5G band compatibility which helps to increase the speed of network and internet and also makes the work easier. The next target to achieve better growth in technology is by speeding up which is possible by 5G connectivity.
COVID-19
2020 is the year where most effects of the coronavirus pandemic were seen. A worldwide lockdown was going on and physical connectivity was lost, the only way to carry out the routine activities and tasks was through the help of the internet and mobile phones.
Schools and offices were working on their systems virtually. The mobile industry got the benefit as everyone required a smartphone to carry out their routine activities and scheduled things through the medium of applications present in the smartphone.
Also, the government was supporting the virtual method as there was a huge rise in the number of Covid patients and helped many people by providing them with smartphones and gadgets at very reasonable costs.
Mobile manufacturers started focusing on budget smartphones that can be easily purchased by a middle-class person. Mobile companies covered all the losses they had incurred and made huge profits.
Banking Sector
One in every four people uses mobile banking services all over the world. Mobile banking provides the convenience and quickness of completing financial transactions via mobile applications and websites which is very feasible for their customers. Thus, banks are convincing their customers to shift to mobile banking which is directly beneficial to the mobile industry as it increases the usage of smartphones.
Also, many people prefer to keep two separate mobile phones, one for personal use and another one for business, financial, and banking purposes to avoid mobile fraud or any hack.
A survey was done on mobile banking trends which tells that there’s a growth of 38% in the year 2020 when compared to 2019. The banking sector in collaboration with the mobile industry can achieve much more progress in the future.
Number of Phone users in millions
Digital Advertisement Growth
Looking at the growth in smartphone usage and the drastic shift towards digitalization, many companies are now considering mobile advertisement. These companies advertise through text ads or via SMS or through banner advertisements that appear embedded on a mobile website.
Mobile Ads
Mobile marketing is easy to access and a very cost-effective way of marketing. Mobile media has begun to draw more significant attention from the media advertising industry since the mid-2000s, based on a view that mobile media was to change the way advertisements were made.
Today the techniques have shifted completely and the strategies used are far more advanced. The effect of digital advertisement directly comes to the sales of the mobile industry providing digital content to the audience.
E-Commerce
E-Commerce started in 1979 with limited resources, but gradually increased and is now in 2020 at it is at its peak. The rise of E-commerce websites has increased in the past year as the offline stores were closed and people were forced to shop their essential items, online stores through the medium of mobile apps and websites.
People started looking out for everything on their mobile phones and eventually now it has made people habitual to purchase goods online. This led to immense growth in the E-commerce sector.
Every year the E-commerce sector of India increases by around 28%. And because of the Covid-19 crisis, it has increased by 41% in the year 2020. The new platform for purchasing goods is convenient and helping the mobile industry to grow even at a faster pace.
IoT Devices
The future is based on technology. With this mindset, software companies are focusing on mobile-based IoT devices. IoT devices are computing devices that are connected wirelessly to a network and can transmit data to many devices.
The connected car technologies and smartwatches are a perfect example of the IoT devices which are connected to the mobile device to show information and transmit data to perform a set of operations commanded by a person. These devices will bring in the new future of the mobile industry.
Conclusion
Mobile Industry has seen many changes in the year 2020 and can see many more by the major players like Samsung, Apple, and Oneplus which consistently bring updates to their technology and reforms to meet the increased expectations of the consumers. Mobile phones will be taking over the future for sure with the rapid growth in the industry as well.
FAQ
What is the value of smartphone industry
The smartphones market is valued at USD 714.96 billion in 2020.
Is the smartphone industry competitive?
Yes, the smartphone industry is a very competitive industry as it is one of the fastest growing industries in the world.
Who has the most market share in smartphones?
Samsung has the most market share in smartphones in 2021.
Samsung is a multinational conglomerate that is majorly known in India for its smartphones. The company was founded in the year 1938 and has its headquarters located in South Korea. The company has the 8th highest global brand value as of 2020 and also has a number of affiliated businesses under the brand Samsung.
The company in a recent press release had announced that it is shifting its manufacturing unit for display production from China to Noida. Let’s look at the benefits for the company is shifting the manufacturing unit to India.
Samsung has announced that it has completed the shifting of its display manufacturing to Noida. The company had conveyed that it has finished the construction of the manufacturing unit in Noida. The new manufacturing unit that is based in Noida is the new manufacturing hub for display production.
How will Samsung Benefit by shifting Display Manufacturing Unit from China to Noida
The company has stated the reasons and benefits for moving the plant from China to Noida is the Industrial environment in India is much better than in China and also added that the policies in India are much more industrial friendly.
Other than these, one of the major points to be noted is that Samsung already has its biggest manufacturing plant in the world located in Noida. This facility is not only involved in the manufacturing the phones for the country but also exports them to other countries.
India is also a major country where Samsung has a huge consumer base. Samsung has seen a 52 % increase in the growth of the smartphones in India in the 2021 Q1. The company also has a 20 % market share in India. India is also focusing on the Make in India concept and trying to reduce as much as goods from China.
Smartphone Market Share Q3 2020
Samsung Delegation on shifting Display Manufacturing Unit
A team from Samsung which was led by the CEO Ken Kang and the company’s Southwest Asia President had called upon Yogi Adityanath who is the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh on 20 June 2021 and stated that the company had finished the construction of the Display production unit in Noida and would be shifting the manufacturing unit from China to Noida.
One of the reasons stated by them to shift the plant from Noida to China was the Industry friendly environment in India. The company further added that they were planning to make the manufacturing hub of Samsung in Noida.
Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh on this move by Samsung
The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath had conveyed in the meeting that the Make in India is a successful campaign and the Noida factory of Samsung is one of the major examples for it. He further added that the new manufacturing unit of Samsung will be creating a lot of employment opportunities for the youth of the country.
The Chief Minister also provided an assurance to the team from Samsung that the Government of Uttar Pradesh will continue to help and support the Samsung company in the future as well.
Conclusion
The team from Samsung had mentioned that the construction work shows their commitment towards India in order to make the country a manufacturing hub of Samsung. However, the company had already started the manufacturing of its smartphone displays in Noida from April 2021. The company had also recently expanded the portfolio of its Tablets in India with the release of Tab A7 Lite and Galaxy Tab S7 FE.
FAQ
Is Samsung phones manufactured in India?
Samsung has two factories – in Noida and Tamil Nadu, where it makes 90% of the handsets it sells in the country, it also has three R&D facilities in India.
Where is Samsung’s biggest manufacturing unit?
Samsung’s biggest mobile manufacturing plant in the world is in Noida which is a 35-acre facility.
Why does Samsung manufacture in India?
Samsung believes that Industrial environment in India is much better than in China and also added that the policies in India are much more industrial friendly.
Did you just break your cellphone’s camera? How about you just swap it out for a new one by yourself? That’s not possible, right? Well, what if I say there was a time when the future of mobile phones was on this path? Yes, that’s true! On September 10, 2013, Dave Hakkens, a Design Academy Eindhoven graduate, uploaded his a video on YouTube. Called ‘Phonebloks’, the video revolved around the idea of replacing old and broken phone parts. This was Project Ara.
Headed initially by the Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) team within Motorola Mobility LLC while it was a subsidiary of Google, Project Ara focused on creating a modular smartphone device that allowed users to swap out outdated and damaged hardware components of a cellphone with new ones.
The original plan, consisted of different hardware modules that could be combined with the metal endoskeleton to create a usable smartphone. The process started by finalizing the endoskeleton and then adding the various parts to it. The different parts included battery, processor, display screens, cameras, storage components, speakers and everything else.
Why did Project Ara Seem like a Great Plan?
Project Ara was developed to revolutionize the functioning of the cellphone industry. It eradicated the need to stand in line for a new cellphone when customers could effortless upgrade the ones they were using. Apart from this, it also had a number of other perks. Let’s take a look at some of them:
It would have resulted in a substantial reduction in electronic waste.
It was as simple as switching the sim in a GSM phone to another phone.
All modules of Project Ara worked seamlessly across all geographical locations as it was based on the frame of the phone.
It would allow users to experiment with specialized components like laser pointers, night vision sensors, Pico projectors, gaming controllers, medical devices and a lot more.
It was supposed to have a specialized Wi-Fi module that would ensure a stronger signal no matter which ISP was being used.
It was intended to be sold at very nominal prices as compared to present cellphones. For example, a starter kit, with the endoskeleton, CPU, battery, display and Wi-Fi was quoted to be sold at just $50.
Users would also be able to choose between two frame size variants – the mini and the medium size frame. There were also talks of a large sized frame somewhere down the line.
However, even after these many perks, Project Ara is nowhere in the market for the last 7 years. So, what happened to it? Did it succeed or fail? What really happened to this revolutionary plan? Let’s find out.
Motorola Mobility LLC announced on 29th October, 2013 that they were working in collaboration with Phonebloks to develop a prototype of the project. The first prototype, called Spiral 1, was introduced in June of 2014. However, it seemed very different than the original Phonebloks plan with a lot of issues.
A second prototype,Spiral 2, having better customizations and design modules, was released in the year 2015. The plan was to release the module in Puerto Rico, since the U.S. territory had a large mobile phone market, but, in August of 2015, Google announced that the release was delayed indefinitely and would be made available in few other cities of the U.S. in 2016.
When 2016 came, the team unveiled a ‘developer’s edition’, that was somewhat different from Spiral 2. The design came with antenna, display, integrated circuit system-on-chip, and sensor attached to the endoskeleton, instead of allowing users to connect parts such as battery, CPU or camera. However, they could still change features like microphones, speakers, batteries and cameras.
By this time Project Ara had come a long way since starting in 2014 with people working in Google using these phones as their main device. But, on September 2nd, 2016, the company announced that they were shelving this project to focus on on others. No other details were divulged and there have been no talks of a relaunch as well.
So, what could possibly have gone wrong? Although it seemed like a brilliant leap towards a better future of smartphones, a lot of things didn’t quite work out in favor of the project.
As is the case with most out-of-the-box ideas that have the potential to change the industry, the project faced a lot of opposition. Most big mobile companies did not support the idea and did everything in their power to restrict Project Ara from being released.
Dearth of Relevant Technology
Although the idea of the project was revolutionary, it seems that it was too ahead of its time. The technology was not advanced enough, at that time, to facilitate the development of this magnanimous and ambitious plan.
Not Easy to Use
Although tech geeks love the idea of swapping out unusable parts of their phone with new ones, normal customers usually buy mobile phones that allows them to stay connected through calls, text messages and use social media. They wouldn’t want to spend time thinking about which processor, RAM or storage is needed for them to perform these tasks.
The Need of Constant Upgrading
As time moved ahead most hardware components like, graphic cards, CPU, RAM and storage cards, become more advanced. Hence, there is a constant need to keep upgrading the software to allow them to support all the new and fast hardware technologies. Thus, all modules of the phone would need to be upgraded eventually, making the phone useless for long-term use.
FAQ
When did project Ara start?
The concept of Project Ara began in 2012 and work started on April 1, 2013. Motorola publicly announced Project Ara on October 29, 2013.
Why was Project Ara Cancelled?
One of the reasons Project Ara was cancelled could be it was too early for the introduction of such modular phones in the mass market.
Why did modular phones fail?
Modular phones failed because of Lack of demand in the smartphone market.
Conclusion
This does not mean the Project Ara is over. The immense potential of the project is too good to be wasted, so, you never know, there could be a more refined version for our perusal in the future.
When recalling the old BlackBerry Era, the most magnificent and best premium smartphone around the world comes to our mind. Yes, we are all well aware of the popularity and craze of blackberry in the early 2000s. BlackBerry smartphones were considered as the possession for all those symbolizing high-status people, rich and popular professionals. Also, Blackberry promised the complete and strong security of its users’ privacy.
By the year 2009-2010, the BlackBerry smartphone gathered more than 85 million users who contributed highly to the success graph of this company. In fact, Blackberry owned over 50% of the US market share as well as 20% of the Global Market share at a single time.
However, by the year 2010, a sudden downfall occurred in the growth of BlackBerry. And soon by 2012, it came down to less than 5% of the market share. So, the question arises, How all of a sudden BlackBerry failed?
This came up to these points:
The Reddit forum/wallstreetbets holds the dependence of the growth to great profit as the technology company is suffering for a long time. Rather of the fact that BlackBerry shares rise from day traders.
Failed to strengthen the innovative features and resulted in being the example for the changes occurring in smartphones.
Other companies are evolving with great fascinating and advanced features, while BlackBerry suffered majorly in offering new features for the convenience of customers.
As the era of advanced technology evolved, Blackberry experienced some major drawbacks which could not be settled. In this article, we’ll get brief on how BlackBerry: Leader failed with no other choices. Let’s get started!
The company, Blackberry was established in 1984 with the production house for only modems and pagers. However, in 2000, BlackBerry launched its first-ever model of smartphone which was named BlackBerry 957. It’s the first model of smartphone that contains the features of surfing on the Internet and sending momentum emails.
In the 2000s, BlackBerry was known as the most standard and premium brand for great business executives and also, those who maintained their privacy and security.
However when the advanced tech company, Apple launched its first smartphone in 2007; BlackBerry experienced good competition in the market. Later, as the technology evolved and other companies like Google launched their phones, the substantial competition began.
With the exponential growth graph of BlackBerry, no one even wondered that this company would fail! But soon after the year 2010, its growth graph experienced a great downfall. And, that’s where the end of BlackBerry’s era begins.
When BlackBerry reached its peak, it took several non-strategic and unreasonable steps that resulted in some big losses. Likewise, it raised its highest stock with the value of $230 which is now worth $4. BlackBerry, a company with enormous goals and plans, failed due to its raging in no time.
These are some points that led to the failure of BlackBerry.
Hardware Innovation
With the evolving technology, BlackBerry was considered to be overpricing on its average hardware system. Soon as Apple and Samsung launched their smartphones with a complete touch screen body.
Also, after the typing is done, the keyword would disappear giving you a huge space for other purposes. However, BlackBerry with its QWERTY keyboard lacked such features and became a big reason for BlackBerry to fail.
Nonetheless, Blackberry did not invest in making a complete touch screen body, instead, it kept making phones with the outer keyboard such as Blackberry Key 2. That’s why its sales dropped by a major number.
BlackBerry majorly focused on the richer section such as Celebrities, Businessmen and other rich administrators. They tend to carry BlackBerry showing their superiority. They used Blackberry because:
Powerful end-to-end encryption security
Advanced PDA that majorly helped in their business
Email services
But, soon as iPhone sales increased, Blackberry lost its enormous target audience and importance in just a little period.
Furthermore, BlackBerry only focused on enterprise-level marketing and neglected the consumer portion. This also played a big role in its failure.
Research and Development
BlackBerry did not fail. It lacked innovation and advanced features because it has always been up with technology and supervisions. But the reason why BlackBerry failed is money.
BlackBerry’s innovation and features came from Research & Development (R&D). But this required money and due to the decreased sales and other failures, it could not invest its money in the R&D.
That’s why BlackBerry could not evolve from its basic potential. Later, BlackBerry’s brand was sold by RIM to TCD (a Chinese firm).
Operating System
BlackBerry’s operating system lacked some major features and technology. It does not allow the developers to build apps on an abundance scale. Other Operating systems give a free directory for developers to build apps accordingly.
However, Android and iOS allowed the customization of applications as they could be removed and added as per the convenience of users.
Therefore, developers were absolutely happy with Android and iOS. Still, BlackBerry kept on developing its own OS which was a disaster.
BlackBerry ultimately brought new smartphones with demanding features to regain its lost significance and customers. It launched Priv with the features like a dual-curved UHD display, pop-up widgets, 3GB RAM and snapdragon 808 CPU. But, this was too late. The phone was an absolute failure. Its product quality and features lacked some major technology.
BlackBerry did not imply adding new features or advanced OS and because of this, the potential consumers of BlackBerry shifted back to Android and iOS.
FAQ
What caused the downfall of BlackBerry?
The reasons BlackBerry failed is that it didn’t adapted new technology, lack of consumer insight and poor design which led to its demise.
When was Blackberry Founded?
Blackberry was founded in 1984.
When did BlackBerry go out of business?
Blackberry in 2016 decided to stop making its own phones, after years of failures.
Conclusion
Today, the production of BlackBerry smartphones has been completely shut down. It has turned back to software and mobile security solutions. BlackBerry succeeded in the market because of its advanced technology and left behind the less-evolved technology. Yet when it came to evolving BlackBerry’s technology, it failed because of its incapability to judge and compete with the competition level of the market.
BlackBerry left some major points and examples for other tech companies that to survive in the technology world, you need to keep evolving your features and technology.
Snapchat is an American based social media company. It is a multimedia messaging app which is developed by Snap Inc. Snapchat has a lot of features and one of the prime features of the company is that the message and the images that are sent are usually for a short period of time and later the users will not be able to access it.
Snapchat has around 265 million daily active users, with the app available in more than 30 languages. In this article let’s look at why the CEO of Snapchat had said that the app wouldn’t exist without Apple.
Evan Spiegel who is the CEO of Snapchat had recently conveyed that the mobile application Snapchat wouldn’t exist without Apple’s iPhone. This was regarding the new policy of Apple where they had conveyed that they would charge 30% fees on any in-app transactions on various platforms.
The CEO of Snapchat had conveyed that they don’t have any problem in paying the amount charged by Apple and to the rules set by Apple. He added that the company doesn’t have a choice but to accept the 30% fees charged by Apple but the company was happy to pay them in exchange for the amazing technology which is provided by Apple in terms of software as well as the advancements provided in their hardware.
Regarding the new update for the iPhone users with regards to privacy, Evan Spiegel has said that Snapchat is on the same page as of Apple and conveyed that they are aligned with the company to helping in protecting the privacy policy.
The CEO of Snapchat had also stated that their investment in the privacy policy made 10 years earlier is really paying off right now. The ATT is expected to create an impact on the advertising business model of social media companies like Facebook and Snapchat which the CEO of Snapchat is very well aware of.
Steps taken by Snapchat towards Apple’s Privacy update
Snapchat’s CEO has said that he is very well aware of how the update of Apple would impact their business model and he also said that the company has been working with their advertisers to in order to shift to the new ad tracking network of Apple.
Apple uses the ad tracking network to measure the effectiveness of the advertisements on the mobile applications. Spiegel has conveyed that the transition has gone smoothly for their business.
Some experts believe that snapchat works better on iPhone because it has different OS than android.
What are Apple’s new privacy changes?
With Apple’s latest software update, iPhone and iPad users will now encounter pop-ups in the apps they use, asking whether the user wants to allow the app “to track your activity across other companies’ apps and websites.
Who is the CEO of Snapchat?
Evan Spiegel is the CEO of Snapchat.
Conclusion
The App Tracking business model of Apple had seen a lot of criticism including the social media giant Facebook claiming that this model was set to increase their profits and not keeping in mind the privacy of the users. However, the new feature is live for all iPhone users across the world.
