Rajvi Nagori
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Abstract
This research paper discusses about iPad 4 as a product and its application in Education industry. The paper examines various web resources to suggest appropriate marketing strategy for iPad 4 positioning in Education industry.
Keywords: iPad 4, iPad 4 in Education industry
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Product Description – iPad 4
Newly launched iPad 4 offers many commendable features to its users. According to the Taqadam FZE (2013), it has a retina display (liquid crystal display) of 3.1 million pixels with 2048 x 1536 resolution and better colour dispersion. iPad 4 has a long battery life of 10 hours and adding to it, the A6X dual core processor promises the iPad 4 to be faster. To make the iPad 4 experiences livelier, more than 300,000 custom-made specially built iPad apps are designed. The stylish iPad 4 comes with a front facing 1.2 MP as well as rear facing 5 MP cameras and also supports advanced wireless technologies like Wi-fi, 3G and 4G LTE.
Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threats and Trends (SWOTT) of iPad 4
Strength
‘Brand’ Apple adds value to iPad 4. Users generally trust ‘Brands’ while buying gadgets and iPad 4 is not an exception to this. Apple’s good customer service has secured large groups
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of loyal users; they are committed users of Apple products/services. In a study by J.D. Power and Associates, Apple ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Tablets” for the second time in a row (as cited in Apple Inc. 2013). iPad 4 redefines the look and feel of tablet computers. It is stylish than ever and easy to carry. iPad 4 comes with a digital assistant – Siri which helps users to choose the right app from more than 300,000 custom-made apps.
Weakness
Apple range of products comes with complexity. People prefer to choose user friendly gadgets. High cost of iPad 4 makes it a limited choice. Like all Apple products iPad 4 too supports only Apple made products/services.
Opportunity
The numbers of computer and internet users are increasing in developing nations and therefore it will be a huge market for iPad 4. Existing iPad users always look to upgrade their tablets. There are scattered market competitors and there is an absence of a market player as potent as Apple. Many companies offer tablets at affordable prices but they lack on building strong brand presence and satisfactory customer services.
Threat
Android enabled devices/tablets are slowly capturing the market. The sale of iPad4 is highly dependable on customer feedback and likes. With availability of many low-priced and user friendly tablets in the market, the number of competitors is growing.
Trends
As noted by Joshua (2013), tablets are overtaking PCs and Smart phones PC sales are slowing down while tablet sales are growing up. iPads are emerging as favored choice of MARKETING PLAN PHASE I 5 enterprises as use of iPads in business operations help in procuring minimal printing costs. Many giant companies like Motorola, HP, Acer, and Dell are coming up with their tablet brands.
iPad 4’s Utility in Education Industry
Technology incubation in Education is not a new thought game. In this day and age of ‘speed’ and ‘quality’, major educational institutions have empowered their infrastructure with computers, lcd projectors, internet, intranet, virtual classrooms, smart classrooms etc.
The aforementioned technological tools are used in many educational activities such as in teaching, assigning homework to students, imparting audio-visual training, making presentations, connecting to educational networks and conducting video/satellite sessions, preparation of educational books/materials/documents, sharing educational resources online and many more.
The scenario suggests that the demand/need for technological tools is already there. What required is to substitute/suffice it with most advanced tablet computer – iPad 4. According to Kosner (2012), “As a corollary to the point about printing, and incorporating software and individualized instruction considerations, many schools, from primary through colleges are rolling out iPad programs.”
SWOTT – Inversion of iPad 4 in Education Industry
Strength
iPad 4 offers useful educational apps such as GarageBand, Wordventure, iBooks, Maths Party etc. to help students better understand the subjects like Maths, Science and English as pointed by Heinrich (n.d., p38). Quick access to resources, videos, maps etc leverages ‘out of the
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Weakness
Potentiality and authenticity of educational apps available with iPad 4 is not yet justified. iPad 4 sometimes encounter e-safety and security issues. There are frequent revisions in iPad models which might make it difficult for educational institutions to keep a pace with, due to large number of tablets in use.
Opportunity
E-books can be replaced with hard copy books in educational institutions. This will curtail the cost of printing/buying books/study materials. Learning Exchange Study in Australia (2011) remarks that iPad 4 supports students in exploring their hidden qualities like creativity, research and analysis, information seeking, decision making etc. (as cited by Heinrich n.d., p10)
Threats
Video based learning may be harmful for students as video broadcasting websites broadcast many undesirable content/material. Students may use the educational games in nonproductive way. Anytime learning facilities limits the learning ability of students. Such facilities lack on assuring students’ participation and unenthusiastically direct students’ learning along narrow paths.
Trends
Many students already use iPads in their day to day lives and using iPads at school/colleges/institutions would be an advantageous learning for them. Supporting this trends, Traxler (2010) notes “woven into all times and places of students’ lives” (as cited in Heinrich n.d. p8).
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References
Anthony Wing Kosner (2012, April 3). Tablets Will Take Over Sooner Than You Think: Five
Telling Trends. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonykosner/2012/03/04/tablets-will-take-over-sooner-than-you-think-five-telling-trends/
Apple Inc. (2013). Why iPad. Retrieved from http://www.apple.com/ipad/why-ipad-retina/
Joshua Sherman (2013, May 9). TABLET SALES ON THE RISE, TO SURPASS PCS BY END OF
Paul Heinrich (n.d.). THE IPAD AS A TOOL FOR EDUCATION. Retrieved from
http://www.naace.co.uk/publications/longfieldipadresearch
Taqadam FZE (2013). iPad 4 White 64Gb WiFi Product Information. Retrieved from
https://www.taqadam.com/2012/12/22/ipad-4-white-64gb-wifi/
