Example research essay topic: Mp 3 Player Mp 3 Files - 1,058 words

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1. The most important characteristics of digital music player industry are dynamism and commercial profitability. As it is shown in the case study, by 2004 sales of Mp 3 players had reached $ 270 million, which accounts for 147, 5 % increase, comparing to year 2003. Many economists describe digital player market in terms of economic boom, which in recent history can only be compared to the commercial profitability, associated with the spread of computer technology. The shaping of market in this industry is directly related to the development of informational technology, which allows producing Mp 3 players with ever-larger memory capacity. Throughout the history, technological breakthroughs allowed small companies to gain considerable share of the market, as they level out the industry's admission requirements.

This is exactly the case with Mp 3 player industry, where 20 % of the market is shared by the companies that were being founded in recent years. Nevertheless, their share of the market is likely to grow rapidly in the next couple of years. 2. The competition in digital music player industry is becoming stronger every year. Because of this, one of the pioneers on the market, company Diamond Multimedia, was being forced to withdraw from the industry. At present time, there are five major manufacturers of digital players: Apple, Archos, Creative, Dell and iRiver.

In recent years, San Disc and Sony have entered the market, while having designed the commercial appeal of its products specifically for the demands of price-sensitive customers. Apple remains the strongest competitor, with its digital player iPod becoming a statement of fashion. 80 % of digital player market belongs to Apple. This can be explained by the fact that this company heavily invests into scientific research, in order to keep up with customers growing need in smaller players with a large memory capacity. The weakest competitor on the market is iRiver. This is because this company failed to recognize the fact that often people are willing to overlook the fallacies of design, in exchange for larger memory. This resulted in situation when iRiver is now forced to offer huge discounts on its digital players, in order to attract customers. 3.

The main driving change in player industry is the rapid progress of informational technology, which is closely related to the development of Internet. Because of this, Mp 3 music format became available to ordinary people. However, in recent years we have seen the introduction of new legislations, which criminalize downloading Mp 3 files, as such that violate artists copyright. The large manufactures of digital players managed to find a way of how to cope with it, by developing their own system of file sharing, where customers have to pay, in order to download music. In its turn, this requires such companies to share a considerable part of their income with artists. Obviously enough, the smaller companies, such as San Disc, simply cannot afford it.

Therefore, in the future they are likely to be pushed out of market, unless the new technological breakthrough will give them back their competitive edge. 4. The key success factors in Mp 3 player industry have technological and marketing nature. As the survey of digital player market shows, more and people are willing to spend money for player, which they will be able to use for a few years at least, without such player becoming hopelessly outdated. They rightly associate the ideal player with a large memory capacity.

At the same time, customers often buy Mp 3 players, as the mean to emphasize their life style. Statistics show that 40 % of all iPods in 2005 were being sold to people, who acquired them because of public pressure. In their mind, buying iPod would help them to maintain their reputation of individuals, who keep up with the pace of informational technology. Therefore, in order to make a successful entry to a digital player market, the potential competitor will have to make its product appealing on both: technological and psychological levels. The best way to achieve this is to design a truly outstanding product, which will gain a brand loyalty, on the part of customers, just as Apple did. 5. Apples rivals might undertake a variety of strategic moves, in order to increase its share of the market, at the expense of iPods.

The most logical one is to provide iPod minded customers with the product, which would offer iPods features for much lesser price. The example of Zen Vision from Creative, is the best way to illustrate this. This player has 30 GB of memory and carries many features, which are non-existent in latest iPod, such as ability to record music off its FM tuner. Zens price in Wal-Mart is $ 250, while iPod, with the same memory capacity, is being sold for $ 390. Another way to attract customers, on the part of Apples rivals, is creation of brand loyalty. The aggressive advertisement campaign might come very handy, in this respect.

The important is to insure that people will subconsciously associate the particular brand name with new technological advancement, which is very likely to occur in next few years within the industry. 6. Without a doubt, Mp 3 player business will remain highly attractive for at least a couple of years, because the advantage of digital players over CD players, for example, is obvious to everyone. This results in situation when more and more people decide in favour of buying Mp 3 players, when it comes to shopping for musical devices. However, the development of digital technology will inevitably lead to Mp 3 players becoming incorporated into other digital devices, such as cell phones.

This process has already begun. It is now practically impossible to find a modern cell phone, which would not include Mp 3 playing capability, as one of its features. Therefore, in the future, Mp 3 player market is likely to shrink considerably, because flash-based music devices are going to be pushed out of market by the growing competition from the manufactures of cell phones. Even so, hard-drive based players are likely to remain hot-sold items in electronic stores. This is because in cell phones, the capability to play Mp 3 files is considered as secondary feature, while hard-drive based players are essentially a computers that allow individual to have his entire music collection with him at all times.

Research essay sample on Mp 3 Player Mp 3 Files