Apple Made $22 Billion In Revenue On Developing World In 2011, Just $1.4B in 2007
CEO Tim Cook described Apple’s conquest of emerging markets today at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference. He said “In 2007, and we didn’t launch the iPhone outside the U.S. until 2008, Apple’s revenue combined from greater China and several other parts of asia, India, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America was $1.4 billion. Revenue for that group of countries last year was $22 billion. We’re only on the surface.”
Cook explained that the iPod didn’t take off as quickly in the developing world “because people were already getting music from their phones. But the world changed for us with iPhone. It introduced our brand to people who had never met Apple before.”
“The iPhone is creating a halo for the Macintosh, and for iPads. We see the synergistic effects of the markets not only in the developed markets, but in the emerging markets.” Next, Apple will focus on Brazil, Russia, and China, where Cook said Apple’s sales were $13 billion last year.
Cook also mentioned his belief that the tablet market will soon surpass the PC market. Regarding the iPad, “55 million units shipped is something no one would have guessed. It took us 22 years to sell 55 million Macs, it took 5 years to sell 55 million iPods, 3 years to sell that many iPhones. It’s on a trajectory that’s off the charts.” Check out MG Siegler’s roundup of Apple’s jaw-dropping Q1 2012 numbers for more the rise of the iPad.
“We’re always focused on the future. We don’t sit and think about how great things were yesterday.”
[Image Credit: MIT]