In an interesting, if panicky, move by investors, shares of Apple, Creative, and key peripheral/supply chain suppliers have been hit by worries that the MP3-player phone market might be taking a huge bite out of the standalone portable media world. While MP3-playing phones have been around for quite a while, their sales potential is yet untapped in the U.S. Movements in this direction, however, have caused a minor panic.
Sure, we here in the States might be a growing market. However, Europe and Asia are currently using their cellphones to buy Cokes, pay at parking meters, listen to the entire Stranglers back catalog using Bluetooth earbuds, and take pictures with 5-megapixel cameras. Perhaps analysts should stop looking inward and take a cue from the rest of the world. Its easier to panic in slow, measurable doses than to dump all your shares one morning because the 12-year-old next door told you about an iPod phone.
Reuters: ‘Apple, suppliers’ hit by demand’ [MacMinute]
