Are iPhone App Ads Going Too Far?
Most people assume that even free items come at a ‘price.’ With that said, it appears that companies such as Transpera are looking to cash in on the millions of iPhone users that download free apps. These iPhone users may expect to see a banner advertisement or two, but they are increasingly being subjected to full screen video ads that take up the entire screen - in other words, advertising networks are no longer giving users a choice as to whether they can ignore or skip over these ads.
Companies such as Transpera argue that they are helping consumers because they are displaying targeted ads, but users are complaining that they are literally taking over their smart phones. Most users of the Android don’t have as many complaints, but it seems that even previously downloaded apps are no longer safe. If some of your apps start to display alerts that indicate that a necessary update is available, there’s a good chance that the developers are just looking to inject more intrusive advertisements. One way to get around this issue is to simply download the paid version of the app, but most users would rather get the same apps for free, especially if they are not sure if it is worth the investment. In the end, it appears that Apple is going to have to come up with a way to keep their customers from being attacked with ads, especially if they don’t want to give their customers another reason why the Android is a better smart phone.
Verizon Looking To Sell Millions Of iPhones In 2011
Verizon has long awaited the day that they would be able to sell the iPhone 4, but even analysts are shocked at the number of units that the company will likely sell in 2011 alone. Consumers love having options, and now that they can choose between two of the biggest cell phone carriers in the US, Apple and Verizon can expect to start signing a great deal of bonus checks. With the pre-orders rolling in, Verizon expects to sell over 25 million iPhones in less than a year. If you consider the fact that there are 300 million people currently living in the United States, that means that over 10% of the total population will become new Verizon Wireless customers - all because of the iPhone. Of course, this does not take into consideration that a large portion of Verizon’s new customers will be coming directly from AT&T, but it does indicate that all of the other cell phone carriers will need to work hard in order to remain competitive.
All in all, Verizon could be the biggest thing to happen to the iPhone since rumors of the white version - which has never officially been released. Since Verizon will likely sell the iPhone 5 when it comes out, AT&T will need to lower their pricing plan if they hope to retain the majority of their customers. Many iPhone owners have complained about hidden fees and price gouging with AT&T, and while they were able to get away with it in the past Verizon is looking to cash in on their shortcomings.