Apple became the world's most successful com pany due to a powerful competitive strategy. That strategy, conceptualized by co-founder Steve Jobs, combines innovation in products, services, and business models. From near-bankruptcy in 1997 Apple's revitalization really took off in the fall of 2001 when it introduced the iPod, a portable digital music player. Eighteen months later, Apple soared even higher when it opened the online store iTunes, quickly followed by its first retail stores. Apple's stores now earn the highest sales per square foot of any retail outlets, including luxury stores such as Tiffany & Co. jewelry or LVMH, purveyor of fine hand- bags and other luxury goods. Apple didn't stop there. In 2007, the company revolutionized the smartphone market with the introduction of the iPhone. Just three years later, Apple created the tablet computer industry by intro- ducing the iPad, thus beginning to reshape the publishing and media industries. Further, for each of its iPod, iPhone, and iPad lines of businesses,