Apple stock priced had suffered a major sell off earlier in the year. But now it has recovered its position and has again become the apple of the eye for most hedge fund companies. The mobile phone brand suffered a plunge in stock price in later half of 2012 and the stock took a beating. But now the outlook has improved and funds like George Soros have increased their shares in the company. Most of the promising outlook has been fuelled due to the rumors that Apple is looking to close a deal with China mobile to sell the phone to its subscribers list of 740 million users. This deal will ensure that people can have access to Apple at a much cheaper price.

The reason for Apple to take such a drastic move is to ensure that it catches up with its competitor Samsung who is gaining lead in the smart phone arena. The share for Apple is still in single digits where as Samsung holds 25% of the market share. Samsung smart phones have recently become the most anticipated phones for users, a position that was occupied by Apple a few quarters ago. A recent survey found out that Samsung is the most used mobile phone in China and its smart phones are more popular than Apple. In terms of brand recognition, Apple was able to hold its ground by one percent only but Samsung has closed the gap. The strategic alliance with China mobile gives company another chance to bounce back and emerge as the most popular brand in the country.

In the US market, Apple is ahead of the competitor Samsung with most households having an Apple Product. At least 55 million households have an Apple mobile phone, IPAD or IPod in their houses. In fact the brand is so popular that in New York most of the smart phones being stolen are IPhones. Last year number of Apple I phones stolen in NYC were around 13,322. This number is bound to increase in the current year as well as during the first nine months the number of Apple products stolen have crossed 11,000. Same has been the situation in London, where the police commissioner blamed Apple products for rise in crime incidents. The distinct white color headphones and the products make it easier for robbers to identify Apple products. Since the products are more expensive than other phones, most criminals attempt to steal an expensive product. The theft of Apple products has alone caused a 24.6% increase in crime rate in London. Irrespective of numbers, the analysts on Wall Street have reposed full confidence in
Apple again. One has to wait and see how it competes with Samsung in the emerging markets where its product is more expensive and people do not have purchasing power to embrace the brand. So far the competition environment is allowing for two competitors to fight it out for number one spot in the smart phone market.