Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is planning to unveil several new apps and development tools at its annual software conference next month.
To improve its devices and strengthen the loyalty among its customers, Apple plans to reveal updates to the operating systems that run the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV at the Worldwide Developers Conference, or WWDC, that begins June 3.
Apple has said that, among the highlights its planning for the developers conference are upgrades to core iPhone apps such as Maps, Reminders and Messages; new apps for the Apple Watch that will make it more independent from the iPhone, and enhancements to the health tracking capabilities of Apple devices. The new updates also give users access to the latest services like Apple Music and the upcoming TV+ video-streaming subscription, which give Apple a recurring revenue stream.
Since launching the iPhone in 2007, Apple has pursued an aggressive approach to refreshing its mobile operating systems each year. The fast pace is taxing on Apple engineers, but the results have been impressive. The company’s products are often unique and more capable than those of its rivals because Apple’s home-grown software works so well with the hardware.
Part of the allure of iPhones and iPads also comes from all the different apps made by independent developers. The Silicon Valley-based company provides new tools for these partners, but it is increasingly building its own versions of popular apps. That helps differentiate Apple devices from rivals but sometimes upsets third-party developers.
But so far, Apple seems to be making its strategy work. The App Store drove $46.6 billion U.S. in spending last year, almost double the amount spent on Google’s Android equivalent, according to Sensor Tower estimates. Apple works with more than 20 million developers who have created over two million apps for Apple’s platform. The App Store and other digital services are on course to generate more than $50 billion U.S. in annual revenue, says Apple.
