When Google came
out with Google+, the tech world was wondering when would Apple launch its
social network. However, we have not seen Apple’s Facebook-like social network
until now. And it seems that Apple does not plan to do that yet.
Does Apple give
up the opportunities in social media era? Surely NO. Actually Apple already has
a series of social networks:
Ø
Music:
Ping
Ø
Gaming:
Game Centre
Ø
Updates:
Cooperation with Twitter
Ø
IM:
iMessage
Ø
Video
Chat: FaceTime
Ø
Location:
Family and Friends
Ø
…
Now we found
that Apple already have an almost complete social network ecosystem that works
greatly different from any other. You do not really have to “join” any part of
it, and you just need to sign in with your Apple ID. Even though you were not
aware of it, you have already involved in Apple’s social networks.
Why does Apple do not launch a
Facebook-like social network?
Even though
Apple has a wildly loyal user base and a nearly dominant place in not only big
part of personal computers but also the smartphone market, it seems that they
never sought to leverage their success and begin building their own
Facebook-like social network. I think it is due the following reasons:
(1) Crucial
Competition
Even if Apple launch
a social network for customers of iOS and Mac computer, they would have a hard
time competing with the hundreds of millions of users that register into
Facebook, Google+, Twitter and from platforms all over the world. Some Apple
fans insist that if Apple enters the arena of social network and it will strive
to be the best finally. That would be too risky. Apple cannot be the best all
the time. Actually it suffered lots of failures already. Apple’s most precious
lesson is saying no.
Just like Steve
Jobs ever said “People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to
focus on. But that’s not what it means at all. It means saying no to the
hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I’m
actually as proud of the things we haven’t done as the things I have done.
Innovation is saying ’no’ to 1000 things.”
(2) They
don’t really needed
Unlike Google,
Apple does not really need a social network. Google’s mission is to organize
the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. However,
Google has no access to Facebook’s information that occupies a huge part of the
Internet nowadays. So Google launched its own social network, Google+, as a
defensive trial. Apple’s revenue mainly comes from the sales of consumer
electronics such as iPhone, iPad, MacBook computers and so forth. They don’t
really need a social network to compete the other forgoers.
(3) Apple already has users' information
Have you ever
purchased Apple devices, downloaded apps into your Mac, iPhone, iPad, or
register an Apple ID? If you have, Apple already knows something much more
valuable than your entire wall posts on Facebook, circles in Google+ or your
tweets on Twitter. That is your credit card number, verified home address and
current mobile number. It is said that Apple has more than 125 million credit
card numbers on file.
Despite your
payment information Apple knows your purchase history. It is rarely the case
that you buy a Mac or iPhone and do not download apps into it. When is the last
time your direct purchase via Facebook, Google+ or Twitter? All those
information is priceless treasure.
What will Apple’s probable do with regard
to social networks?
In addition to
Apple’s already-exist social networks and deeply cooperation with Twitter,
iCloud may be a valuable area. According to Tim Cook’s announcement, Apple has
over 100 million iCloud subscriber at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet
Conference in Feb. 2012.
“We have 100
million users of iCloud – we just launched it October! This is unbelievable.”
--- Tim Cook
It means that
Apple has access to over 100 million people’s calendars, contacts, bookmarks,
photos, reminders and iCloud documents. They know the places you have been to
with applications like Family and Friends
and Find my iPhone. They are able
to inspect your photos and got to know what messages you are sending with
iMessage.
If Apple plans
to set up a social network, iCloud has collected more than required
information. Or will iCloud evolve to be a social network? Let’s wait and see : )
Hi, Chang jie,
回复删除It is innovative to predict the possibility of Apple's social network. You have approached it from an angle of user information and privacy data. Nevertheless, I think people's using habit of social network is also a key component. Facebook has become a habit for people and icloud for them is more like a backup service.
It remains to be seen.
Best
Wang You
I'm really happy to know that you consider my article to be innovative. I tried hardly to think out of this topic and indeed done much effort to complete that issue "Apple's social networks". Thank you for your kind commend : )
删除It's a really interesting and unique blog in social network.
回复删除In my opinion, there is a key difference between the Apple Inc. and Google etc. The main focus of Apple Inc. is on its products and related products software or hardware, while Google and that kind is mainly a Internet company. But of course Apple Inc. can expand it to a much wider area.
Another view you gave me is that Apple Inc. always stands on the shoulders of giants Facebook, Twitter for instance. It's really benefit no matter for a person or a company.
Yes, I agree with your opinion. Apple only focus on their own products, and develop some functions, features or new products, communities to support, promote their own products. But Google will try anything about everything.
删除Thank you for your appreciation. We learned a lot about Facebook, Twitter and Google+ in our class. I wondered that as a huge player in IT company how come Apple do not have their social networks. So I did some investigation and analysis about Apple's social networking issue. Then this article came out. I also really like this topic.
删除iCloud is indeed innovative for users to store everything into the cloud storage. Recently Apple just setup the "Find my friends" and little social networking applications. I am also looking forward to the new invention of Apple on social computing.
回复删除Social networking is such a great dimension in Internet activities. Recently, both Microsoft and Google launched their new iCloud-like Cloud storage services: skyDrive and Google Drive. They all equipped with social networking characteristics.
删除Thanks for your sharing and your idea is really interesting! Now maybe Apple just rely on selling consumer electronic devices to make money, but who knows what will they do next? From what I see, they may have already changed their strategy after Jobs gone. I mean they already discount iPad2 for $100, it seems like they try to compete with others with price. Therefore, maybe the old Apple has gone with Jobs.
回复删除I am very happy that so many people harbor the same interest in this topic "Apple's social network". Thank you for your appreciation. But I don't agree with you that the old Apple has gone with Steve Jobs. Until now Apple is doing really amazing in products innovation and revenue generation. It is still the most valuable IT company in stock market.
删除此评论已被作者删除。
回复删除Well, I consider the most important reason for why Apple don't build a Facebook-like social network is timing. When Facebook came on-line in 2004, Apple was far not famous as now. No iPhones, no iPads, no iOS devices. However after these innovation appeared in 2007 it was too late to build another social network. Facebook's user stickness is too strong.
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