iPhone 5 Release Date: iPhone 4S Gives Huge Opportunity to Samsung and HTC
As the iPhone 4S was unveiled at Apple’s event Tuesday, and it became clear that there would be no iPhone 5 coming out, companies such as Samsung, HTC and LG Electronics were getting excited. With thousands of Apple-lovers left disappointed that just a reworked phone was being released, competitors are seeing a window of opportunity.
Samsung, HTC and LG Electronics may now aggressively promote their flagship high-end models ahead of Christmas in a bid to take advantage of disgruntled smartphone consumers.
The new iPhone that Apple announced yesterday, at the “Let’s Talk iPhone” media event in California, has disappointed users that were following rumors and expecting a completely remodeled iPhone 5.
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For some analysts, smartphone fans, who were waiting to see a thinner, bigger-screened design of a product, may now look other options of device with better specs.
“Users may wait to buy the next iPhone, if they can’t wait, they may shift to brands with more advanced specs,” said Gartner analyst C.K. Lu in Taipei, according to Reuters.
Other companies may now move forward with more ambitious plans to compete in the smartphone market as the analyst believes that Apple may no longer have the leading edge with only the iPhone 4S as its highest-end model.
"Apple no longer has a leading edge, its cloud service is even behind Android; it can only sell on brand loyalty now," said Gartner.
“Major concerns for Samsung had been that its smartphone momentum will decelerate with Apple's new iPhone, but that's now less of a concern as the new iPhone failed to excite many," said Kim Young-chan, an analyst at Shinhan Investment Corp in Seoul, according to Reuters.
Reports have shown that shares of HTC, Samsung and LG have risen. Shares of Taiwanese smartphone maker rose 0.6, while Korean Samsung and LG climbed 1.7 percent and 0.4 percent respectively.
Phones based on Google’s Android have a greater combined market share than Apple’s iPhone, which is still the world’s No 1 selling smartphone.
