The fact that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) considers China to be one of its biggest markets is no surprise. In fact, CEO Tim Cook has stated in the past that China could be the company’s biggest market at some point in the future.
Whether or not Apple continues to make progress in this country remains to be seen. Right now, Cupertino is moving in the right direction. When you combine this with a smartphone market that is growing by leaps and bounds, the sky is the limit.
Digitimes recently touched on a yet to be published report by IDC, stating the following:
“China’s mobile phone shipments registered at 97 million units in the first quarter of 2013, up 15% compared with the same period in 2012, while China’s smartphone shipments totaled 78 million units in the first quarter, a growth of 117% compared with the same period in 2012.”
There are a couple of keys to success for Cupertino, including a deal with China Mobile. This may be just what Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) needs to push forward in the country.
Along with a China Mobile deal, it would be interesting to see what a lower priced iPhone would be able to bring to the company in terms of sales in China.
If you are unsure of where Apple stands right now in China, here is more from the article:
“In the first quarter, Apple ranked the fifth with a market share of 9% and a link relative ratio of 21%. The shipments of iPhone 4 (8GB), which is an excellent performer, grew by 211% over the previous quarter.”
As you can see, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is growing its market share in China but it is far from the top spot. Right now, Samsung continues to rank number one in China with a market share of 19%.
The smartphone market in China is ripe for the picking. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is lurking while other companies continue to spend just as much time and money in the country. Who knows where this market will stand in another year.
