(pictured above KT Tunstall, Steve Jobs and Howard Shultz discuss Product RED)
Starbucks announced at the end of October that they would join Bono starting on November 27, 2008 in support of Product (RED). Starbucks is committing five cents from the sale of any Starbucks (RED) exclusive beverage at all company-owned and licensed stores in the United States and Canada to the Global Fund to invest in AIDS programs in Africa. The (RED) awareness ends at Starbucks on January 2nd.
But what about iPhone (RED)? Apple disappointed cult of iPhone faithful this past summer during the debut of iPhone 3G when chatter of a red iPhone release gained huge momentum resulting in a failure to launch. iPhone 3G spawned the new plastic backed White and Black iPhone's with no mention of the "little red devil". Once Apple transitioned iPhone to the plastic housing, it only stands to reason that adding red would be fairly simple.
We reported a few months back about a rumor that iPhone red would makes its debut as a surprise 'Black Friday' release at the Apple Store, aimed at giving a big boost to Apple's holiday sales. Is it possible that iPhone red could still be part of Apple's much anticipated "aggressive Black Friday discounts" ? Though we've not abandoned all hope just yet, the probability of iPhone red making a day after Thanksgiving appearance is unlikely. This might be a good time to employ some wishful thinking, that goes double for Apple. With analyst Piper Jaffray expecting a decline of 8 percent in iPhone sales over the holiday season, iPhone red could be exactly the kind of lift Apple needs to keep demand high in the minds of consumers poised to hold back this year.
If a RED holiday debut goes bust for iPhone, all eyes will be turned towards a MacWorld 2009 announcement, which is better late than never but still offers no real guarantee. What makes the red iPhone so desirable? And why is Apple holding out when demand appears to be extremely high?
[Photo by rblock] [CNET] [More at MacBlogz]
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