SAN FRANCISCO — Apple CEO Tim Cook says consumer demand for new iPhones has been “staggering” and “hard to comprehend.” That helped the company report record-smashing earnings for its latest quarter and sent the stock climbing more than 7 percent on Wednesday.
But after selling a record 74.5 million iPhones in three months that ended in December, what can Apple do next?
While several analysts have raised their estimates for Apple, some still worry the company depends too much on the iPhone, which contributes two-thirds of its sizable revenue — leaving Apple vulnerable if another gadget comes along to replace the iPhone in popularity. Cook and Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri, however, say they’re optimistic about other products in Apple’s portfolio. Here’s some of what they talked about Tuesday.
Apple Watch
Apple plans to start selling its highly anticipated smartwatch in April, Cook told analysts on a conference call. He added that developers are working on new apps called “Glances” — apparently in reference to the way people will view those apps on their wrists.
Cook boasted he’s already wearing and enjoying an early model. “I’m using it every day and love it and can’t live without it,” he said.
Still, some analysts say it’s difficult to predict demand for the Apple Watch. “We continue to believe interest from consumers is tepid,” said Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster in a recent note to investors.
Apple Pay
Apple introduced its digital payments service last fall, but Cook vowed Tuesday that “2015 will be the year of Apple Pay.” He said 750 banks have signed up for the program, which now accounts for $2 out of every $3 spent through so-called “contactless” payment systems, as opposed to credit cards that are swiped at the point of sale.
While Apple is believed to collect fees from banks when shoppers use Apple Pay, it doesn’t specifically disclose revenue from the service. BGC Partners analyst Colin Gillis says he doesn’t expect the program will make a “material” contribution to Apple’s revenue in the near future.
Other devices
Apple said sales of Macintosh computers were up 9 percent in the last quarter. The company increased its share of the personal computer market at a time when overall PC sales were declining. Apple no longer reports separate numbers for its iPod music players.
But iPad sales fell 22 percent. Even so, Maestri said surveys show consumers love iPads for Web-browsing and shopping, and he said new apps produced in partnership with IBM will increase business uses for the devices.
New markets
Apple says iPhone sales doubled in China, Brazil and Singapore in the last quarter, despite aggressive competition from South Korea’s Samsung and the Chinese companies Huawei and Xiaomi. Cook also boasted the company saw record rates of first-time iPhone buyers and former owners of Android phones who are switching to Apple devices, although he didn’t provide specifics.