Now that the iPhone is available in Canada and all over the world, do you think Apple will still have decent sales of the iPod touch? I think so.
Here’s why:
Although the iPod touch is still compartively expensive at $319 for the 8gb, $419 for the 16gb, and $519 for the 32gb, when you look at the costs of owning an iPhone is the long run, the cost is way less.
Owning an iPhone will cost you about $80 a month if not more. With the cost of the iPhone built in, you are looking at $1200 for the first year and about $1000 a year for each subsequent year. For many people that is just too expensive.
The iPod touch does have one major missing feature - a phone! The other, the ability to get data where ever you are without relying on wifi. This alone makes me not a fan of the iPod touch. But it does have a huge following on the internet and on youtube in particular with the younger generation. When you are looking for hacking information, you generally find the methods to do so on an iPod touch. Then you just apply it to the iPhone. Of course this isn’t true for unlocking.
Some people already have a phone they like or are under contract with Telus or Bell and they don’t really feel like switching. The ECF could be a deciding factor too. The iPod touch still does have amazing features which are probably very attractive to many people.
When Rogers first announced their iPhone plans, we all know a lot of people weren’t too happy and some even said they were getting an iPod touch instead. I wonder how many people followed through and if there has been any returns on them since. I bet they are a bunch of used ones on eBay and craigslist now that people have an iPhone.
I don’t think Apple will sell as many as they did prior to the release of the iPhone in Canada but I don’t think it will become a money loser for them. I’m sure a lot of people bought the iPod touch here when the first iPhone came out. It is easy enough to unlock it but a lot of people didn’t want to go that route.
I think the iPod touch could use a price reduction. I don’t see how someone can pay $519 for a 32gb one. That’s pretty expensive. Maybe a $100 price drop and taking the 8gb model out of the product line may help. But Apple doesn’t want to undercut their other iPod products which are still pretty good sellers. The nano is still the best iPod seller for Apple.
Do you own an iPod touch? What do you think Apple should do with the iPod touch?
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One Ping to “Why the iPod touch is still a viable product in Canada”
13 Responses to “Why the iPod touch is still a viable product in Canada”
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1. hoagus Says:
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:36 amI just bought a 32GB (had a $300 gift credit at the store) iTouch (yeah, I know), because I don’t use a phone enough to justify the costs of the contract.
I’d love to have a speaker and mic (for recording) and a camera on the Touch. And still have the silver back.
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2. Mark Rushton Says:
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:45 amIt’s hard to justify the expense of the iPhone + Rogers plans when the iPod Touch can be had for as little as $209 (refurbished 8-gig). I’ll keep my Rogers pay-as-you-go RAZR and live with the WiFi limitations of the Touch. Hotspots are nearly ubiquitous these days!
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3. ruffdeezy Says:
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:09 amThey could add some new features to keep the iTouch a hot seller. A camera would work as well as a speaker. The silver back is nice, but it is easy to scratch and get worn out very quickly if it isn’t protected.
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4. Stephen Says:
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:27 amI ended up getting a 4GB nano where I had planned for a 3G iPhone. Rogers outrageous rates made me rethink the whole iPhone issue. I realized that the data transfers would be the killer. So I decided that I would rule my life, not Rogers or Apple. A simple little Nano will do all I need - the rest is just fluff.
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5. ruffdeezy Says:
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:39 am@ Stephen
I know owning an iPhone is still an expensive venture at about 90 bucks a month but what are your thoughts on the $30 - 6gb plan? -
6. bc Says:
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:45 amI have a 32GB iPod Touch, maybe soon I’ll have an iPhone 3G
I’ve brought the Touch on 2 vacations (1 overseas) where I didn’t bring a laptop, so it was our connection to the internet for casual browsing and the occasional email check. even at home I still use it daily to quickly look up something if I’m not near my computer.The thing I’ve found with this usage is that free WiFi spots are not available as often as I was expecting, even in urban areas like shopping malls - although coffee shops are still a good bet. I mean you can find them, but you do have to hunt for them, they’re not free or open everywhere. even at one US hotel we stayed there was only paid-WiFi. so the iPhone with say the 6GB plan would make pocketable internet access anywhere more a reality (well, within Canada at least, the US or overseas data roaming rates are crazy!)
but the iPod Touch is still an important product in Apple’s lineup, after all they’ve made clear that this mobile OS X platform is the future, e.g. with the AppStore. if it weren’t for existence of the iPod Classic 80GB/160GB at $259/369 there’d be easy room to move the Touch prices starting somewhere above the 8GB nano.
p.s. of course the cellular & bluetooth radios, camera and external speaker are left out on purpose for differentiation vs the iPhone. But if I could have just one of these added to the Touch it would be the speaker (handy for youtube or games)
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7. Partners in Grime Says:
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:29 pmMy iPod touch has been great fun. Lots of WiFi around here. Needs a speaker and a microphone and a VoIP app. :)
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8. Guido Says:
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:34 pmI already had an iPod touch. Because of Rogers’ / Fido’s outrageous plans I’ll keep my Nokia 6310i and use the Touch as an iPod and electronic organizer. I’d love to combine both things in an iPhone but not with these plans.
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9. Chase Says:
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:45 pmI bought my 32gb Ipod touch as soon as I added the cost of having this thing monthly was going to be and realised that I have wifi in my house at work… and mostly wherever i go theres wifi so I decided on a 32gb ipod touch
Im still open to get an iphone but only if they lower the contract price to two years and come out with decent plans (and maybe a 32gb version :P)
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10. 4walls Says:
July 26th, 2008 at 8:26 pmThe iPhone is not as expensive as you think. Rogers will sell you the iPhone $199 as long as you sign up for a voice plan of $35 or more. If you sign up for a cheaper voice plan, there is a $50 surcharge on the cost of the iPhone.
I got one with a $25 MY5 plan. Call Rogers direct at 1-888-ROGERS1 to order. This offer is not available on the website. You can also get this offer in stores if you find someone that will sell you the phone. They make more commission if they sell the data plan with it so until the demand has slowed, it is unlikely you will find someone who will sell you one.
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11. fuct Says:
February 13th, 2009 at 7:30 pmIpod touch no good in Canada at all. Do most ppl looking to buy a new ipod touch know that you cant use those itunes gift cards to download games. And if you found out the hard way like me its already to late. you cant get a refund after it’s been redeemed this is just bull what a waste of over $300 the new touch is not the funnest ipod without games come on apple WTF are you thinking some warnings on the cards or ipods would be nice. Lost this loyal customer. Theives!
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12. Mike Says:
May 16th, 2009 at 3:51 pmI am planning on purchasing a new ipod touch, can anybody tell me if they still sell the 1 gen ipod touch in Canada?
Thanks alot.
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13. Heartdogs Says:
October 14th, 2009 at 8:33 pmfound your site on del.icio.us today and really liked it.. i bookmarked it and will be back to check it out some more later .
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September 2nd, 2008 at 3:21 am
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