Apple today announced the 1GB Ipod Nano, retailing at $149 or £109 it is ready to ship according to both the US and UK online Apple Stores.
This has got to be a sensible business move for Apple after making the high end (Ipod) and middle (Nano) market their own, this entry level price point Nano is surely going to seal the lower end of the market. Surely the next step is to discontinue the 1GB Shuffle? Though still listed at $99 or £69, depending manufacturing levels, could it be a case of selling off the remaining stocks? Its is interesting that it coincides with Microsoft’s recent announcement that they’re looking at the portable music player market. At this late stage though surely they must have doubts about entering a marketplace that is so dominated by Apple.
It strikes me as ironic that Microsoft will be in the same position as many of their competitors are in the software game. The difference being of course if anyone has the resources to take a slice of the dominance of Apple it is Microsoft.
Take a look at the console industry as an example of this, while the Xbox/360 couldn’t be called a glowing success, in just one generation they have made a massive push into the market that was dominated by Sony. With the head start Microsoft has on the PS3 and without a confirmed release date (apparently developers don’t even have dev kits that even resemble the PS3) it would be naive for Sony not to be taking Microsoft seriously.
How serious Apple might take Microsoft’s suggestion of them entering the market is another matter though. From a consumer point of view, competition can only be a good thing. It will be interesting to see how this pans out.
