Apple (AAPL, Financial) has launched a new application called "Apple Invites," which aims to enhance its subscription revenue. This app allows users to organize events such as birthday parties and customize invitations using the Apple Intelligence platform. Additionally, users can create playlists through Apple Music and generate shared photo albums for events. While the app is free to download, it requires an iCloud+ subscription starting at $0.99 per month.
The introduction of "Apple Invites" could increase competition for popular mobile invitation tools like Partiful, Paperless Post, Evite, and Punchbowl. In recent years, Apple has shifted its focus toward services and subscriptions, generating approximately $100 billion annually, making it a critical growth driver for the company.
Apple has also restructured the payment options for AppleCare+. iPhone users can no longer make a one-time payment in retail stores or via their iPhones. Instead, they must choose monthly or annual payments. The company is emphasizing its "Theft & Loss" service, which allows users to purchase a new device at a lower cost if theirs is lost or damaged. For example, the monthly AppleCare+ fee for the iPhone 16 Pro is $13.99, compared to the previous one-time fee of $269 for two years of coverage. Apple aims to lower upfront costs and prevent coverage gaps with these changes.
