The time scales and activities in Figure 1 are generalized and intended to fit many product types' life cycles.  The basic product-life arenas are 'in the Producer's hands', 'in the Consumers' hands' and 'Product End-Of-Life (EOL)'.

The interlinked activities, exact relationships and time lines in Figure 1 may differ depending on the type of producer (software, hardware, fashion, knowledge, service, web-based merchandizing, military, medical etc.) and the market-savvy of consumer: i.e., young, Boomer, Innovators, Early Adaptors, Early Majority, Late Majority, Laggards - see Geoffrey A. Moore (Figure 2 below) and Everett Rogers (originator of the curve below).  The Technology Adoption Life Cycle curve is oriented toward technology based products, but the five consumer categories can certainly be applied to other product types.