Wal*Mart’s iPhone

Wal*Mart has begun selling the iPhone for a $2 discount ($197 for the 8-gig, $297 for the 16-gig). Bloggers predicted a much lower price (some said $99 for the 8-gig), so these prices come as a little bit of a shock. And even more so when compared to Best Buy’s further discount to $189 for the 8-gig and $289 for the 16-gig. That’s not a huge difference, but Apple is known for having the same price everywhere, so any dip in price is newsworthy.

The fact that Wal*Mart will be selling the iPhone is pretty significant. In this rough economy, Wal*Mart has continued to fare well as many flock to their stores for low prices. This includes many people who had not shopped at Wal*Mart in the past.

This also reaches a new demographic of people. Apple stores abound, but not in too many places, especially rural areas where Wal*Mart has set up shop. Apple has roughly 200 stores in the USA. Wal*Mart has more than 2500.

Also, Apple’s computers and ipods carry higher price tags than similar competitive products. This has probably kept many people away from the Apple stores. Having the iPhone in Wal*Mart could change that perception.

When purchasing the iPhone at Wal*Mart, a 2-year deal with AT&T will still be required. The other retailers of the iPhone will continue to be Best Buy, AT&T outlets, and of course the Apple Store.

As I have blogged in the past, the consumer shift to smart-phones has many implications for musicians. This means more people will be looking at websites on a small screen. Is your website set up for clear visibility on the iPhone? Can someone easily listen to your music on a mobile device?

Stay tuned,
Erik
erikrostad.com