Apple iPad 2 Launch: Apple Has 200 Million User Accounts With Credit Card Numbers

Apple fans worldwide rejoice once again after the latest unveiling of the Apple iPad 2 by Steve Jobs last night.

Australian Apple lovers can mark March 25 as the day the new iPad 2 hits our shores. Long queues and sold out stores are pretty much a given, judging by past releases of just about any Apple product in the country.

Some Disappointment

PC World has already released an article stating that the new Apple iPad 2 isn’t all that flash, given the fact that some features are still missing. Aside from being lighter than the previous model and faster to boot, the new iPad 2 leaves some fans disappointed.

The Other Side of the Shiny Coin

Even so any Apple release leaves millions of people salivating at their mouths, Apple has to be commended for being one of the smartest companies in the world. Jobs revealed that Apple has now a massive database of some 200 million people, including their credit card numbers. Think about that for a moment.

While everyone has kept their focus on their products and marketing campaigns it seems now clear that Apple had an ulterior motive – to build a database of millions. Steve Jobs, during the presentation revealed this staggering piece of information.

Smart, Sexy and Savvy

As a die-hard Apple fan myself I applaud Jobs and his cohorts for being savvy marketers. Back in the older days we used to commend companies such as Nike and Coca Cola for their branding and marketing campaigns. But I think you would agree that Apple has taken the monster bite out of the market.

A clever marketer once said to me: “It’s OK to make sales, but the backend is where the REAL money is made.” I’d have to wholeheartedly agree with that person. Apple’s database is proof of that, because they would turn over billions of dollars in sales in their backend sales funnel.

Think iTunes, think accessories…

Apple-Specific Accessories

Not only have Apple managed to build a widely respected brand with great residual income streams, they have also made it harder for many product owners to switch to a competitor. It’s not easy trying to move your existing playlist out of iTunes into a new computer. Unless you have the right software and knowledge to do that you probably give up in the process.

The same applies to the popular Apps store and even the iPhone cover – iPhone 3 and iPhone 4 accessories are totally different from each other. Users are therefore forced to upgrade their accessories every time they buy a new Apple product.

The Money is in the List

I’m sure you’ve heard that saying before. Think how much money can be made with a 200 million user list? The figures are huge, make no mistake. Add to this the rumours about the new iPhone 5 being also a payment device and Apple has the potential to exponentially grow their profits many fold.

Don’t you wish you would have bought Apple shares when they first launched their company?

Credit Card Offer Comparison

		Interest Rate (p.a.)	Balance Transfer Rate (p.a.)	Annual Fee	Cash Advance Rate (p.a.)
Bankwest Breeze MasterCard	A low interest rate on everyday purchases with a low balance transfer offer	0% for 4 months (reverts to 11.99% )	0% for 6 months	$59	21.99%
Citibank Clear Platinum Card	A low interest rate offer on balance transfers and purchases	0% for 6 months (reverts to 11.99% )	0% for 6 months	$49 annual fee for the first year ($99 thereafter)	21.74%
St.George Vertigo	An introductory offer on balance transfer and a low annual fee	13.24%	2.99% for 6 months	$0 annual fee for the first year ($55 thereafter)	21.49%
Virgin Australia Velocity Flyer Card	Earn 1 velocity point per $1 spent, plus an introductory offer on balance transfers	20.99%	2.9% for 6 months	$129	20.99%
Westpac 55 Day Credit Card	No annul fee for the first year with a low rate on balance transfers and purchases	0% for 5 months (reverts to 19.59% )	0.99% for 9 months with 1% handling fee	$0 annual fee for the first year ($30 thereafter)	21.49%