Subscribe to iPhone and iPad regularly?..."Apple Considering Subscription Service"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Apple, the manufacturer of the iPhone, is reportedly pursuing a plan to allow iPhone devices to be used through a subscription service, Bloomberg reported on the 24th (local time).

According to the report, the plan is basically to have users pay a monthly fee to subscribe to and use the iPhone and other Apple hardware products. Apple is also considering allowing subscribers to switch to new models in line with the release of new iPhone models. Bloomberg cited sources saying the device subscription service could launch as early as the end of this year or next year, but also noted the possibility that it could be canceled altogether.

Apple's strategy involves turning not only software services like Apple Music and iCloud into subscriptions but also hardware devices, moving away from receiving the full device payment at once. Instead, the model connects payments through automatic card billing by carriers or retailers, allowing money to be deducted regularly.

Bloomberg analyzed that switching to a subscription service could allow Apple to secure more revenue while reducing the burden on consumers who otherwise have to spend hundreds of thousands of won at once. Unlike device installment plans with fixed periods such as 12 or 24 months, the monthly fee will be determined based on the device chosen.

Previously, Tony Sacconaghi, senior analyst at asset management firm Bernstein who proposed the iPhone subscription idea in 2016, argued that an iPhone subscription would be inexpensive compared to subscriptions like Starbucks coffee or The New York Times. He said, "Many customers would find it hard to think of a personal item they use more than the iPhone," adding, "Moreover, compared to other services consumers are willing to pay for, the cost of the iPhone is relatively inexpensive."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.