Software subscription services, presumably everyone is familiar with, such as mobile phone major software to provide paid membership services. However, hardware subscription services may be rare, and even most people do not have this concept. Recently, overseas media rumors that Apple may launch a hardware subscription service in the near future, what is it, we can briefly understand.
According to the news of overseas media, Apple may apply the subscription system to hardware devices in the near future, providing the so-called "hardware subscription service". As with the software subscription service provided by Apple, users only need to pay regularly to use a piece of hardware provided by Apple, the concept is similar to "rent", the only difference is that users can change the device to a new model at any time during the subscription period, and do not need to pay the subsequent tariff of the original subscription plan.
Judging from the content of this service, it still has many advantages. Taking the iPhone as an example, in the mobile phone market, the iPhone has always been thriving, and all aspects of the performance are good, but as a high-end positioning mobile phone, the price is obviously higher than many mobile phones, even the cheapest iPhone SE (third generation), the price is also catching up with other flagships. The cost of starting is high, and consumers' desire to buy will naturally be hindered. The hardware subscription service completely reduces the threshold for users to start, and also improves the user's fault tolerance rate. Users can use the iPhone for a small fee, and if the experience is not good, they only need to unsubscribe and do not have to worry about impulse consumption.
On the other hand, for Apple, hardware subscription services are also a multiplier. Not only can the same product be exchanged for a long stream of capital income, but also can be too old or damaged products to recover, improve the utilization rate of resources, environmental protection and no loss. More importantly, Apple can invest more money in product research and development, and output more competitive products to occupy the market.
However, hardware subscription services, like many software subscription services, have obvious drawbacks. For consumers, if they subscribe to a piece of hardware for a long time, the subscription cost is bound to exceed the value of the hardware itself, and the user does not really own the ownership of the hardware, which is actually a loss. At the same time, today's mobile phone performance is basically excessive, users after the purchase, may not have to change the phone for several years, then the full purchase is obviously better than the subscription service. In addition, the amount of compensation brought about by damage or loss is also a concern for many consumers.
The author believes that the hardware subscription service launched by Apple is generally more beneficial than harmful, but it still needs to be improved. Among the many drawbacks, the most concerned thing for users is the problem that the cost of long-term subscriptions exceeds the value of the product itself. If Apple can solve this problem, it is bound to be accepted by more users.
For example, while providing hardware subscription services, some software services are provided to users, so that users can get a more complete ecological experience, and it is easy to convert potential users into real users. The author speculates that this is also the purpose of Apple's launch of the service, attracting consumers through early adopters and then converting. Or, when the subscription fee exceeds the value of the product itself, the consumer can take ownership of the hardware for a small fee. Then, whether it is to attract users to enter the subscription, or to cultivate loyal users, it has a role that cannot be underestimated.
Hardware subscription services, at present, are only a concept and have not really been implemented, but it is indeed a new development direction for the mobile phone industry. It may be difficult to achieve in the next few years, but it is ultimately a behavior worth trying. If Apple really succeeds in its trial, then the author believes that many mobile phone manufacturers will also launch this service, and the purchase of mobile phones in the future may no longer be a simple property transaction. So, the question comes back to you, will you choose to rent a mobile phone in the future?