As a result of the recent onslaught of Apple/Samsung litigation over intellectual property issues in courtrooms around the world, the public perspective on Apple as a company has dampened significantly. However, with the launch of the iPhone 5 expected the day after tomorrow, will Apple be able to regain the love and respect from consumers that it once held so firmly? Let's take a moment to consider...
Apple has been involved in lawsuits against Samsung in South Korea, Japan and the United States recently. The case in Japan was not found in Apple's favor, the case in South Korea was neutral, as it decreed both Apple and Samsung guilty of patent infringement and the case in the United States was found largely in Apple's favor. As a result of that case, the jury demanded that Samsung pay Apple $1.05 billion in damages and also decided that 8 Samsung devices should be banned from the U.S. marketplace.
While the U.S. Court certainly found in favor of Apple, the result had consumers around the world rallying for Samsung and disavowing loyalties and respect for Apple and its business practices.
In a Latinos Post poll, which asked readers to respond to a number of statements regarding their feelings about Apple being rewarded the $1.05 billion and filing a ban against Samsung products, the outcome showed a largely anti-Apple sentiment. Of the approximately 3,000 votes that were tallied, 363 were decidedly pro-Apple, 2,229 were definitely anti-Apple and 423 votes were Apple-neutral.
However, Apple made a recent announcement to the media alluding that its highly anticipated iPhone 5 would be unveiled at a press event on Wednesday. Although consumers have recently hopped on the Samsung bandwagon, with reports showing that for the first time ever the Galaxy S3 overtook the iPhone 4s as the top-selling smartphone in the U.S. marketplace, Apple may still be able to rally for the top spot.
Rumors are flying about a completely overhauled iPhone with this next version, and if Apple is able to deliver on what the general public wants in a smartphone, the company may be able to snatch back the #1 spot as top selling handset as well as offset all of the negative publicity that it has garnered over the patent infringement trials.
Forbes reports that FBR Capital analyst Craig Berger has called the iPhone 5's launch "one of the largest single product opportunities in Apple's history," estimating that it may sell 250 million units with profits over $50 a share. Let's see if Apple will come through.
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