14 DAY TRIAL // As expected, analysts and members of the media present at Apple's FY '09 First Quarter Results Conference Call were restless, pressing Apple's execs to talk about stuff like a possible netbook, Steve Jobs' health and more. Not surprisingly, Apple was able to extinguish iPhone nano rumors with a single statement coming from Apple's COO and current acting CEO, Tim Cook.
During the Q&A with the media, Tim Cook maintained Apple's stance on netbooks saying, “We’re watching that space, but right now from our point of view, the products in there are principally based on hardware that’s much less powerful than we think customers want, software technology that is not good, cramped keyboards, small displays.”
“We don’t think people will be pleased with those products. It’s a category we watch, we’ve got some ideas here, but right now we think the products are inferior and will not provide an experience to customers they’re happy with,” Cook added, forever denying Apple netbook rumors.
Responding to a question on the iPhone’s pricing, Apple's COO replied, “We are now in over 70 countries with the iPhone and you’re correct, some of them are non-subsidized markets. Examples are, the largest is in terms of size of the market, our sales are clearly materially less in those markets than they are in the subsidized markets with contracts. We are constantly evaluating the best way to play in these markets. We know there’s a huge opportunity here, and we will make adjustments in the future there to play in a better way.”
Not long into the Q&A, Cook took on speculation around a possible iPhone nano coming out of the Cupertino labs. While not vehemently denying its possible appearance on the market bearing an Apple logo, he reminded everyone that Apple doesn't like to play in the low-end market.
“You know us, we’re not going to play in the low-end voice phone business,” said Cook. “That’s not who we are. That’s not why we’re here. We’ll let somebody do that, our goal is not to be the unit share leader in the phone industry. It is to build the best phone.”
Clearly, the best phone Apple can think of will be nothing less than the currently selling models.