According to a report from O Globo, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has reduced the price of the iPhone in Brazil by a substantial amount, lowering them down to over 25%. The Cupertino company lowered the price of the 8 GB iPhone 4 to R$ 1099 (US$544) from R$ 1499 (US$741) and also dropped the 16 GB iPhone 4S from R$ 1999 (US$989) to R$ 1699 (US$840).

In Brazil, AAPL does give customers the option for 12 month financing, however, if a customer pays up front, they will be awarded a bonus 10% discount, lowering the price of the iPhone even more. After bringing some of Foxconn’s operations to Brazil, and lowering the company’s overall costs, the price of the iPhone is likely reflecting the change. It is unclear however, if the the new price reduction will affect the iPhone 5 as it is not sold in Brazil’s online store.

In the US, the 8GB iPhone 4 is available unsubsidized for $450 before taxes, which could easily bring it up to over $500. Even so, it appears that with the 15% discounts, Brazilians are still paying a higher amount for unlocked iPhones, as opposed to their US counterparts. Apple has begun hiring for employees at its retail locations in Brazil, ensuring that customers in the country recieve the same experience as all others do around the world. It remains unclear if the price reductions will reflect in other markets around the world.

{Via MacRumors}

Last August, Apple launched a buyback program for old iPhones, iPads and Macs and partnered with its long term recycling partner PowerON. The program offers users an Apple gift card for the value of the device, which can be used at any of the company’s retail locations as well as the online store.

The Cupertino company also gives users the options to recycle the device without any charge or compensation if they choose. On Wednesday, ahead of iPhone 5 release date, Apple updated their Reuse and Recycling page to include the iPhone 4S, offering up to $345 for the device. A slightly used black iPhone 4S would receive about $280 in the form of a check.

According to AppleInsider’s report, the addition of the iPhone 4S comes only weeks before Apple is expected to announce the release date of the next generation iPhone 5 on September 12th and release on the 21st. Although the online prices for the recycled devices are estimates, most device owners are receiving more than the initial $200 the put in for the 4S. PowerON also recycles newer PCs for Apple Gift Cards through its recycling program.

If you’ve been waiting to upgrade to the sixth gen iPhone then this recycling program is a great option to get a good deal on your used iPhone. Apple’s all-new iPhone expected to launch in the coming month.

Apple Inc. (AAPL) has retail stores all over the world, most recently in China and is now looking to spread out to other parts of the world, the latest country being Sweden. The Cupertino company reportedly filed for a business registration certificate and even began hiring for the store. Apple’s products are already available if many countries, even those without any Apple owned retail stores.

According to site 99Mac, Apple’s latest store is expected to be located in the Täby Centrum shopping center in Stockholm and will likely be opened September 15th. The new retail store will certainly benefit from the expected iPhone 5 release date of September 21st.

According to further reports, this isn’t the only location that Apple is planning for Sweden and is in fact planning one in Malmö for October 25 as well as another location in Stockholm. Sweden is the 14th country to receive an Apple owned Retail Store, showing the company’s dominance in markets that it deems massively profitable. This is Apple’s first retail stores in Sweden and surely not the last in the European region.

{via MacRumors}

Apple Inc. (AAPL) opened up a new retail store in NYC late last year, the Grand Central Station store but in the process, put one of its oldest locations in New York for renovations, the famous SoHo Store. Apple’s SoHo store underwent a major reconstruction earlier this year, and is set to reopen this Saturday. The SoHo location is only one of the 6 retail stores that Apple operates in New York City and serves most, if not all of lower Manhattan.

AAPL sent out emails to past customers and customers subscribed to the company’s newsletter, telling them to come down to the SoHo store and celebrate the repening of the location in its original spot. The store, located on Prince Street was temporarily moved a few blocks over, in order for Apple to renovate and expand the store. The temporary location was also two floors, with product displays on the first floors as well as a full Genius Bar, however, lacked the massive amphitheater that the original location offered.

The amphitheater is often used for celebrity visits, product demonstrations, and staff briefings. Apple rescheduled many of the events and relocated them to other stores, but brought them back for the reopening of the permanent SoHo store. The first 3,000 customers to visit the store will receive a commemorative t-shirt, similar to Apple’s other grand openings. The store will open on Saturday, July 14th at 10AM ET.

Apple Inc. (AAPL) opened its fifth retail location in New York City late last year, and experienced many controversies over the amount of rent that the Cupertino company paid to the Metropolitan Transit Authority, roughly $60 per square foot. However, the AAPL  retail store is now turning the tables on those who complained about the rent sharing issue, proving that its presence is in fact, helping the neighboring stores in Grand Central.

One restaurant has reported a 7% increase in sales since the opening of Apple’s newest store. Michael Jordan’s The Steak House is located across the terminal from the new Apple Store, Grand Central and co-owner Peter Glazier has confirmed that their restaurant has experienced a 7% increase.

He also specified that this increase was not due to the fact that the Apple Store replaced another restaurant, Matrazur, which occupied the space prior to the tech giant’s arrival, but because of the Apple brand itself setting up shop in that location. “The jump only happened after Apple opened,” said Glazier but not during the months that the store was being built.

Apple’s $60-per-square-foot lease agreement is significantly lower than what most tenants pay at Grand Central, however, Apple’s brand presence increases foot traffic to a place that otherwise, experiences the same amount of traffic each day. Apple’s Grand Central Store brings in far more people, who are likely to sit down at a restaurant such as Michael Jordan’s The Steak House after visiting the Apple Store.

{via Mac Rumors}

Apple Inc. (AAPL) CEO Tim Cook mentioned earlier this week that John Browett was hired not to “bring Dixons to Apple”, but instead “to bring Apple to an even higher level of customer service and satisfaction.” Cook even went as far as to say that, “John shares that commitment [to customer service] like no one else we’ve met.”

With John Browett accepted as one of Apple’s more talented executives, the online community has begun to wonder what style of retail strategy that Browett will bring to the Cupertino company. On Thursday, Paul Harmer who wrote an email to Tim Cook further revealed that he had an unusual encounter with John Browett at one of Dixons’ retail stores, PC World. He described it as following.

Just a quick note about John Browett –

About a year ago I was with a friend in our local branch of PC World (part of the Dixons group) looking at plasma TVs. We were assisted by a really charming and knowledgable assistant, who I must admit appeared slightly better-dressed and older than most in the store. He must have spent at least 30 minutes with us, explaining the pros and cons of LCD vs plasma, and the best deals available. An excellent impression.

Turns out it was John Browett making one of his regular store visits, but we had to prise this out of him.

Hope he does well, genuinely impressive bloke, and this ties in with your comment about his passion for customer service. He means it!

Paul

In a another interesting twist, Paul Harmer also mentioned that after emailing Dixons Group, he recieved a personal response from Browett, then Dixons CEO:

Dear Paul,

Thank you for your kind comments.

Hope the TV works out well.

Happy new year

John

This new report allows many to see the retail experience that Browett will be bringing to Apple, an experience that is very familiar to customers. Late Apple CEO and Chairman, Steve Jobs was known to send emails to customers and address them directly, something that CEO Tim Cook has continued as well. Apple is making lots of changes to its executive positions, hoping to preserve its reputation for excellent customer service.

{via Mac Rumors}

According to a new report published by Neowin Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) has unveiled plans at their Worldwide Partner Conference for an additional 75 stores in the US, bringing the grand total of retail stores to 86 stores. Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) has around 350 retail store locations and continues to add stores in cities all over America, allowing the company to stay ahead of the game and dominate the retail market.

Microsoft (MSFT) has attempted to enter the retail atmosphere in the past, and failed to provide a common theme for their store that customers could relate to. As a result, the 11 Microsoft Retail stores currently in the US, faded away in the shadows of Apple’s (AAPL) retail empire. Now, a few months after Microsoft’s Windows Phone entered the market, Microsoft is planning to once again re-enter the retail market and propose a challenge for Apple.

It is, however, evident that Microsoft is adjusting their strategies based of Apple’s and is readjusting itself to an ever changing market. Microsoft has attempted to create inviting places, with wood surfaces, where customers can enjoy the array of products. The products are available for customers to use and even allows them to ask questions about them at the “Answer Desk”, essentially Microsoft’s form of a Genius Bar.

Microsoft has yet to announce any further plans that they may have, but until they do, it is clear that they are following closely in the footsteps of Apple.

Do you think Microsoft’s new retail stores will pose a threat to Apple? Let us know what you think in the comments.

A new report from CrunchGear published today has revealed that Apple may be unhappy with Best Buy for holding back stock of the iPad 2 after reaching their daily sales quota. Despite the overwhelming demand for the second generation device, and the difficult consumers are having with trying to acquire one, the retailer refused to sell more than they needed to each day so that they could meet sales quotas the following day.

According to the Best Buy employee speaking to CrunchGear, Apple really isn’t happy about this, and Tim Cook – who is stepping in for Steve Jobs while he’s away – is personally trying to get the issue resolved.

Demand for the iPad 2 since its launch has been staggering – with retailers selling the device quicker than they can get the units in. In its first weekend, the tablet sold an estimated 500,000 units over its first weekend alone, so you can imagine the frustration from both Apple and consumers at Best Buy’s silly sales method – informing customers that the device was sold out, when in fact, their stock room was littered with them.

As well as Best Buy and Apple’s own retail stores, customers looking to get their hands on an iPad 2 in the U.S. can also find them in Target, Walmart, AT&T and Verizon stores, and possibly Toys ‘R’ Us in the coming weeks. However, Best Buy is Apple’s largest third-party sales partner, and despite their displeasure at Best Buy’s sales techniques, it’s hard to believe the Cupertino company will drop the retail giant altogether.

Instead, I think Best Buy will receive a firm slap on the wrist from Tim Cook and his team and will be watched a little more closely in the near future.

So, if you’re still trying to get your hands on an iPad 2 in the U.S., it might be a good idea to try Best Buy today as they pull out all the stock they’ve been saving up out back.