'MP3 Player Industry Analysis\r'

'electronic gadgets are very much prevalent nowadaysadays. Both teens and adults a similar are caught up in this technology wave of the pass and future. Al approximately everyone in the US and a nonher(prenominal) first-world countries confirm mobile phones. Even itsy-bitsy kids have one for practical reasons, correspond to nearly parents. Yet an opposite electronic gadget that is as popular as a mobile phone is the MP3 thespian. Since everyone seems to like music a lot, this little electronic winding easily captured the hearts of galore(postnominal) large number around the world.\r\n apple was the society that had big risks yet big hopes in this grocery when it released its own version of MP3 role player called the apple iPod in 2001. Some were not convinced of orchard apple tree’s dodging entering this line of business as the industry was not kind of assure that time (Guglielmo, 2001). entirely even with its expense tag on the upper bracket, Apple repor tedly has the highest share in the market place at rough 80% (Skee, 2006). But with the increasing number of competitors in the market offering much more cheap digital speech sound players, this huge nub of market share leave behind most likely decrease in the years to come.\r\nAs all knows, technology is something that does not actually stagnate at all. MP3 players would not only remain as unreserved music playing device forever. With constant engineering and innovation, a third of the MP3 players presently available in the market now have video playing capability. This subject matter that users will not only be able to listen to their favorite music wherever they want, but watch some cool music videos as well.\r\nThis do a huge impact in the sales of MP3 players since the feature was introduced. Wargo, director of Consumer Electronics Association, (as cited in Slocombe, 2006) stated that, â€Å"MP3 technology helped boost the audio recording and accessories markets in 2005. With the introduction of video playback capability, MP3 player sales surged 200 percent in 2005 to $3 billion.[…]” The figures concerning this industry are really huge considering that this only talks to the highest degree the US consumers alone.\r\nAt present, MP3 players still do not lose their charm. Just for the erstwhile(prenominal) pass season, MP3 players topped the survey of 1,000 US adults for their most wanted gift (Ogg, 2006). The device had outdone other popular consumer electronic devices such as digital cameras and portable videodisc players. According to CEA (2007), â€Å"MP3 players continue to drive the audio market. […] Thirty-four million MP3 players shipped in 2006 and an surplus 41 million are pass judgment to ship in 2007.”\r\nThe toughest competitor of Apple iPod now is Microsoft’s own Zune which was scarcely introduced in the market late 2006, on the button in time for the holidays. The two products have been c ompared by a lot of analysts. close of the reviews and comparison reports made still approximate that Apple will be the guide brand in this industry for the adjacent years to come. However, Apple is still in stand by because Microsoft is still Microsoft.\r\nAlthough in that location are not enough discipline yet as to how many people already own the new Microsoft Zune nor their incumbent market share, it is well-known that the brand Microsoft itself owns round 90% of the market when it comes to operating systems which is some 300 million people. On the other hand, there are about 30 million people who have an iPod, which is about 70% of the MP3 player industry. (Elgan, 2006)\r\nIn a nutshell, the MP3 player industry is still a promising and flourishing industry and will continue to increase sales in the coming years. With all the different companies attempt to compete and outdo the market starter, Apple iPod still is the leading player in the market since its introduction despite the quite expensive price tag it has.\r\nReferences\r\nElgan, M. (2006). feel: Why Microsoft’s Zune Scares Apple to the Core. Retrieved February 22, 2007 from http://www.computerworld.com/ fulfill/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9003718&pageNumber=1\r\nGuglielmo, C. (2001). Apple Has Big Hopes for iPod. Retrieved February 22, 2007 from http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1242682,00.asp\r\nOgg, E. (2006). MP3 shammers Top spend Wish Lists, CEA Survey Finds. Retrieved February 22, 2007 from http://news.com.com/MP3+players+top+holiday+wish+lists,+CEA+survey+finds/2100-1041_3-6126358.html\r\nSkee, G. (2006). US MP3 Player sales Will Reach $4.5 trillion in 2006. Retrieved February 22, 2007 from http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archives/2006/01/us-mp3-player-sales-will-reach-45-billion-in-2006.php\r\nSlocombe, M. (2006). CES 2006 Starts: MP3 Player Sales to Soar 200%. Retrieved February 22, 2007 from http://digital-lifestyles.info/2006/01/05/ces-200 6-starts-mp3-player-sales-to-soar-200/\r\n'