Streaming services are booming, Apple wants in

New streaming services for videos, games and news were introduced at Apple's March event

Video streaming is the number one driver for media consumption. According to NPD, iOS users hold 66 percent of video content viewing in comparison to 49 percent Android users. In connection, the company announced Apple TV Plus which seems like the Netflix version of Apple. But given that several other media streaming companies already feature movies and shows, Apple needs to provide fresh content exclusive to their platform. Thus, Apple TV Plus Originals was announced. With its theme being "highest-quality storytelling," this is where users will find Apple's original shows. The company teamed up with renowned TV and film celebrities like Jennifer Anniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Oprah on this project, who in turn have upcoming shows in this platform. However, the monthly subscription price of the Apple TV Plus as well as the exact date of its arrival wasn’t announced.

The current Apple TV on the other hand received various updates. First was the availability of this app. Aside from mobile devices, it will now also be available in Mac devices as well as the smart TVs of Samsung, LG, Sony and Vizio.

A new feature called Apple TV Channels was also announced. It will be an ad-free service, and it will be merging other streaming services like Hulu, HBO, iTunes movies as well as cable satellite subscriptions all in one hub. Thus, users won't need to open several streaming apps every time since everything is already in Apple TV. Viewers will also be able to pick the channels they want. Aside from media consumption via mobile, the act of streaming content using TV-connected devices is also growing more popular. It looks like Apple wants to take the opportunity to adapt to these trends.

Apple News Plus

We live in the digital age. Yes, print media is here to stay, but digital media keeps growing. According to Magloft, Digital magazines are easier to make and access. They also have more features than basic print like the availability for links, audio files and videos.

This is where Apple News Plus enters. This service will be the central hub for over 300 magazines. Apple reiterated that this service won't feature ads nor will it track its users' data. It will be $9.99 per month, with the first month being free of charge. With this news feature, it could influence more users to read magazines and news updates using their mobile devices aside from using them for video and social media consumption.

Apple Arcade

Mobile games are at its peak. Of the estimated $92.1 billion 2018 revenue of applications, mobile games hold 76 percent of that share, per a Newzoo study as reported by Venturebeat.

Apple aims to target gamers through the Apple Arcade service. Users will be able to access over 100 exclusive games and will be able to play the same games from one device to another as their game history will be saved. Apple again reiterated how it values users' privacy as there will also be no ads, in-app purchases, and data tracking and collection on this service. On the other hand, a screen time feature exists wherein parents could track their children’s usage. The Apple Arcade could pave way to users’ growing interest in mobile gaming.

Apple Card

Apple card is basically Apple's own credit card service. It focuses on privacy and has no ads. Privacy and security are of utmost importance in Apple Card as all user information will be stored locally. No one will have access to said information except the user. It can be accessed in the wallet app, but users will also have the option to have their own titanium physical card, as Apple has teamed up with Mastercard.

Apple Card will show the user's account balance, transaction records, expenditures and payment due date reminders. Purchase trends will also appear with graphs in this service, helping users keep track of their spending. A cashback will also be given to consumers every time they use Apple Card – 3 percent cash back for Apple purchases, 2 percent when the app is used, and 1 percent when the physical titanium card is used. There will also be no fees.

Smartphone usage is still increasing, and Newzoo also expects that by 2021, there will be 3.8 billion users around the world. With the media consumed being mostly videos, Apple's announcements will greatly impact the future of next-generation mobile devices.

For instance, with Apple services and 5G continually being rolled out, users can now watch ad-free movies and TV shows on a connection 20 times faster than 4G. This can push up demand and usage frequency for 5G phones.

The services also complement and can grow together with today's foldable phone trend that allows users to consume media in a tablet-sized screen while having the option to carry these devices around like compact-sized phones. But since these phones are still in their infancy stage, there is still room for tablets, which regular consumers use for media consumption.

With a great future for streaming and mobile devices coming, sourcing next-gen smartphones and accessories for iPhone from Asia manufacturers as early as now helps importers gain a head start against competition while the trend is getting hotter.