Archive for December, 2011

Apple retail stores are taking part in World AIDS Day today, on December 1. The company is drawing attention to its (RED) products, which raise money to fight AIDS in Africa. ifoAppleStore reports that a "select group of Specialists will be wearing and promoting the (RED) iPod nano" to mark the day set for international AIDS awareness.

Apple sells 8GB and 16GB (RED) iPod nano models for the same price as other models, but a part of money that Apple will receive this day, will be donated to the Global Fund in order to fight AIDS in Africa. The company also offers a (RED) leather iPad Smart Cover, Special Edition (RED) Beats by Dr. Dre Solo HD Headphones, as well as a (RED) iTunes gift card. Managers also have to use the (RED) Smart Covers for iPads during this day.

The idea of this (RED) project belongs to U2 lead singer Bono and Bobby Shriver. Apple has been the largest contributor to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS.

"This is serious and significant," Bono wrote. "And Apple's involvement has encouraged other companies to step up."

According to findings released on Tuesday by Nielsen, Apple remained the largest smartphone manufacture in the Unites States in the third quarter. While smartphones sales continue to grow in the U.S., accounting for 56 percent of all cellphone sales in the prior quarter, Apple’s market share has reached 30%. Apple's third quarter performance was followed by HTC with a 20.3% share.

As for mobile platforms, Android and iOS dominate with a 71.1% share, holding 42.8% and 28.3% respectively. About a half of all mobile users in the United States owns a smartphone. During the prior quarter 56% of all handsets purchases were smartphones. The third place still belongs to RIM's BlackBerry platform with 17.8% that was followed by Microsoft's Windows Mobile platform, HP's Palm/webOS, Symbian and the fledgling Windows Phone.

App downloads in the third quarter saw that Google and Apple have the largest share. 83% of all downloads were made through Android and iOS devices. But Google has recently expressed dissatisfaction by the situation with app downloads, and hinted at upcoming changes that would bring its online store more in line with Apple's.