Apple will completely rule electronics sector by 2013
by Steven Mostyn - Mar 25 2011, 05:34
Big. Bigger. Biggest? Image: nan palmero/Flickr.
Considering the recent and ongoing success of the iPod, iPhone and iPad, it’s safe to say Apple Inc. has become an extremely big fish in an extremely big pond. However, if analyst projections are accurate, the computer and gadget giant is set to go from big to biggest.
That’s according to George Colony, founder of Forrester Research, who this week told Bloomberg that he expects Apple to register growth of 50 percent per year for the next two years on the back of its hardware and software dominance in the mobile sector.
Colony also said Jobs & Co. is destined to become “a $200 billion revenue company,” which would propel the Cupertino-based titan beyond current tech industry leaders IBM and Hewlett-Packard (HP).
In terms of crunching the numbers, it’s worth noting that Apple pulled in $27 billion USD during the year’s first fiscal quarter, and it’s on track to post full-year sales in excess of $100 billion USD thanks to current growth of 54 percent.
Although apparently destined to eclipse any and all opposition as its products and platforms continue to sweep the planet, Colony’s predictions for Apple also carry a more ominous edge.
Specifically, he suggested that the eventual departure of ailing powerhouse Steve Jobs, who Colony sees as stepping down permanently in the near future, will have a negative impact on the company where regular and compelling product refreshment is concerned.
“Remember, every two years they have to fill [Apple Stores] with new stuff,” said Colony. “Without Steve Jobs as CEO, I think it will be much harder for them to do that. That would be a massive, massive hit to the valuation.”
A very frail-looking Jobs, who has fought a long battle against pancreatic cancer, is presently on indefinite medical leave.
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