Tag Archives: aapl

Apple iCloud Shifts Spending To Google From Amazon’s AWS: Report

Apple ( AAPL ) is shifting some of its iCloud infrastructure to Alphabet ( GOOGL ) unit Google from Amazon ( AMZN ) Web Services, according to a report Wednesday. The deal was made last year, with Apple agreeing to spend $400 million to $600 million at Google Cloud, according to CRN, citing sources. CRN set it wasn’t clear if that was an annualized rate or total spending amount. This would be a big coup for Alphabet’s Google, which has been trying to make a bigger mark in enterprise cloud services, taking on Amazon’s AWS and Microsoft ( MSFT ) unit Azure. Google in November hired VMware ( VMW ) co-founder and ex-CEO Diane Green to run its cloud operations.  Streaming music giant Spotify last month said it was shifting its infrastructure over to Google Cloud. Google and Verizon Communications ( VZ ) reportedly have been in talks on a hybrid cloud partnership. Apple has never officially confirmed that it uses AWS and Microsoft’s Azure. However, Morgan Stanley recently estimated that Apple spends $1 billion a year with Amazon’s AWS. Apple also is spending billions of dollars on data centers, suggesting it may seek to reduce its reliance on cloud services firms such as AWS.

Apple’s Rumored iPhone SE Is Subject Of ‘Modest’ Expectations

Apple ( AAPL ) is expected to unveil a new 4-inch iPhone on Monday, but analysts have only “modest” expectations for the handset. In a research report Wednesday, RBC Capital Markets analyst Amit Daryanani said the new iPhone SE will be “an incremental positive” for Apple. He reiterated his outperform rating on Apple stock with a price target of 130. Apple stock was up 1.4%, above 106, in late-afternoon trading on the stock market today . The new small-screen phone will provide an upgrade opportunity for iPhone users who prefer a 4-inch display over the 4.7- and 5.5-inch displays on Apple’s flagship phones, Daryanani said. It will also give Apple a refreshed product at the low-end of the premium smartphone segment, he said. “The numbers (for iPhone SE unit sales) will be modest at about 10 million to 15 million annually, but importantly this should provide a buffer in the June and September quarters — the quieter period ahead of the iPhone 7 refresh,” Daryanani said. The iPhone SE will replace the iPhone 5S, which was released in September 2013. The new model is expected to sport an A9 chip, NFC technology to enable Apple Pay and a 12-megapixel, rear-facing camera. But it will not have a press-sensitive touchscreen like the flagship models, according to media reports. In a report Tuesday , S&P Capital IQ analyst Angelo Zino likewise estimated that Apple could sell an additional 10 million to 15 million iPhones, or around 5% of total unit volume, thanks to the new handset. In a research report Monday, Nomura analyst Jeffrey Kvaal said he too had “modest” expectations for the iPhone SE. “We do not expect huge unit volumes from iPhone SE — only in the range of 10 million to 20 million over the first year,” Kvaal said. “We believe this smaller and more affordable iPhone is designed to target emerging markets, as Apple looks to ensure a quality experience among the fast-growing emerging market users.” RELATED: Better Times For Apple Could Start With Spring Product Launch .

Siri, Why Aren’t People Using Voice-Activated Personal Assistants?

Apple ’s ( AAPL ) Siri, Amazon.com ’s ( AMZN ) Alexa, Alphabet ’s ( GOOGL ) Google Now, Microsoft ’s ( MSFT ) Cortana and other voice-activated services are getting lots of attention — but they aren’t getting that much use, a new survey, as reported by eMarketer, says. Even as consumers increasingly turn to mobile phones for shopping, communicating and information, only 13% of U.S. mobile phone owners use a voice-controlled personal assistant on their device each day, says the survey from 451 Research, which was taken last June. Adding together the 13% of survey respondents who said they use such a service daily to the 14% who said they used it weekly and to the 10% who reported using it monthly, that still only comes to little more than 1 in 3 mobile phone owners who say they use a personal digital assistant at least once a month. But there are big caveats. For one, June is a long time ago for a fast-emerging technology. Moreover, at the time, fully one-third of respondents said they didn’t have a mobile phone that gives them an option to use a personal assistant, the survey said. EMarketer models the U.S. to have 177.8 million mobile phone users as of year-end, or just over half of the population. By 2018, it forecasts that there will be 207.1 million mobile phone users, or about 63% of the population. “And, as mobile devices become more sophisticated and offer options like voice-controlled personal assistants, more of those searchers may be inclined to try them out,” eMarketer said. Amazon’s Alexa is able to hail rides from Uber , play music, set timers and manipulate smart devices in homes, such as Google’s Nest smart thermostat service, among other functions. This month, Capital One Financial ( COF ) announced that it was adding a “skill” — Amazon-speak for a function — enabling customers to use Alexa to check their credit card balances or make payments. Shares of Apple and Alphabet were up about 1.5% in afternoon trading in the stock market today , while Microsoft stock was near 1.3% and Amazon.com was up a fraction.