Cell phones immitating the popularity of Apple's touch-screen technology
Implications - When the Apple iPhone proved its place as an unrivaled winner in the mobile phone market, other cell phone manufacturers sought to replicate it. These ‘knock-off’ innovations target consumers not able to buy an iPhone, or not wanting to be one of millions with the same product.
Trend Themes
1. Copycat Innovation - As Apple's products gain more popularity, smaller and cheaper copycats emerge in the market targeting consumers who can't afford the originals or want a different design.
2. Product Placement - Product placement is introduced to the home by companies, such as Sprint, offering incentives to insert their products into people's videos, disrupting traditional advertising methods.
3. Music Services Bundled with Smartphones - Smartphone manufacturers offer music services bundled with their products, similar to iTunes, to compete with Apple's iPhone and provide users with greater value and convenience.
Industry Implications
1. Smartphone Manufacturing - Manufacturers can innovate on both hardware design and software to differentiate themselves and possibly compete with larger competitors, such as Apple.
2. Advertising - Companies can consider new and unconventional methods, such as product placement in personal videos, to reach their target audience and disrupt traditional advertising strategies.
3. Music Streaming Services - Music streaming services could bundle their services with smartphones to provide users with greater value and convenience, as well as compete with larger companies, such as Apple, who offer similar services.
