Apple Leverages Network Effects
to Propel Growth
Apple launched its enormously successful iPhone in
the summer of 2007. A year later, it followed up with
the Apple App Store, which boasts that, for almost anything
you might need, “there’s an app for that.” Apps are
small software programs developed to provide mobile
users with inexpensive business and personal services
wherever they may be. Popular apps allow iPhone users
to access their business contacts via LinkedIn, call colleagues
overseas via Skype, check delivery of their
Zappos packages shipped via UPS, get the latest news on
Twitter, and engage in customer relationship management
using Salesforce.com . You can stream music via Pandora,
watch YouTube videos, access Facebook to check on your
friends, post the latest photos using Instagram, or pin the
latest fads about home décor on Pinterest.