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BrightWire summarizes a report [Google translation] from Chinese financial news site yicai.com noting that the city of Shangahi has officially announced Apple will open a new facility including some research and development operations in the city this summer.
- Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce has announced that Apple will open its R&D center this summer.

- Apple has registered three firms in three buildings in Pudong, Shanghai, and one of them will be dedicated to procurement management and R&D, according to documents on the Shanghai Municipal Administration for Industry and Commerce's website.
shanghai.jpg
While Apple had previously been reported to be developing an R&D facility in Beijing, the Shanghai plans have reportedly been underway for quite some time. Initial reports of a Chinese R&D facility emerged following a meeting between Apple CEO Tim Cook and the acting mayor of Beijing just two weeks ago, so it is unknown whether those plans are still in the works.

China is an enormously important market for Apple, with revenues of $7.3 billion in the last quarter alone. Cook described China as Apple's second largest region.
If you look at our total Greater China, which would include our retail stores in China, our revenues were $7.3 billion in the quarter. So this is incredibly high, it's up over 60% year-on-year ... It's clear that China is already our second-largest region ... and it's clear that there's a lot of potential there.
A key challenge for Apple in China is that its products are typically too expensive for workers on an average salary. Apple recently introduced payment plans of up to two years, and the rumored low-cost iPhone is also expected to be offered in the Chinese market.

Article Link: Apple R&D Center Reportedly Confirmed for Shanghai
 

newdeal

macrumors 68030
Oct 21, 2009
2,509
1,769
..

even though it may be too expensive for the average salary I remember a story of young people selling vital organs in China to get ipads etc
 

RolyPolyBird

macrumors regular
Aug 13, 2010
208
0
The human rights abuses in China are unacceptable and things are not getting better. You have got to wonder if this is a strategic move by Apple, done purely to give them more negotiation power against the Chinese Government and in their "courts".

Why would they choose Shanghai over Taiwan or Hong Kong or even a Japanese or Australian city?
 

everything-i

macrumors 6502a
Jun 20, 2012
827
2
London, UK
The human rights abuses in China are unacceptable and things are not getting better. You have got to wonder if this is a strategic move by Apple, done purely to give them more negotiation power against the Chinese Government and in their "courts".

Why would they choose Shanghai over Taiwan or Hong Kong or even a Japanese or Australian city?

Think you pretty much nailed it there.;)
 

hollin

macrumors newbie
Oct 23, 2011
8
0
Is it just me or is "reportedly confirmed" an oxymoron?
 
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Intarweb

macrumors 6502a
May 30, 2007
561
0
While this doesn't wont happen because of this move, the moment I see 'Designed by Apple in China,' on an Apple product I purchase, I'm done with them.
 

Popeye206

macrumors 68040
Sep 6, 2007
3,148
836
NE PA USA
This will be a good move for Apple... the Chinese market is unique in many ways and having local talent to help make iOS and other Apple products more friendly to these cultures will help. A smart move for Apple in the long run.
 

lixuelai

macrumors 6502a
Oct 29, 2008
957
326
I was just in Shanghai last week and went to check out the Apple store. Largest and most crowded Apple store I've ever seen.

Anyway as for location Shanghai is about as close to the center of East Asia as you can get (2-3 hours flight time to pretty much every major city). Location is very ideal geographically and is the main reason the city became so important economically in fairly recent history.

As for human rights abuses honestly very few people in China really care about it. People are more concerned about the air they breath and the baby formula they are feeding their kids. Though I guess having a habitable environment is a human right as well.

p.s. That picture of Shanghai is way too flattering.
 

Codyak

macrumors 6502
Apr 6, 2012
370
127
DC
This will be a good move for Apple... the Chinese market is unique in many ways and having local talent to help make iOS and other Apple products more friendly to these cultures will help. A smart move for Apple in the long run.

This is what I was thinking, rather than all Apple products changing to Designed By in China, this place will just designing products specifically for them/the Asian market. Where as everywhere else will still have products designed in California.
 

arbitter

macrumors regular
Nov 12, 2010
109
1
Belgium
The human rights abuses in China are unacceptable and things are not getting better. You have got to wonder if this is a strategic move by Apple, done purely to give them more negotiation power against the Chinese Government and in their "courts".

Why would they choose Shanghai over Taiwan or Hong Kong or even a Japanese or Australian city?
You're forgetting it is another culture there then over here. I'm not saying child labour and such is justifiable, it's just... You can't really compare it with situations in Western-Europe or North-America.

And I presume they're choosing Shanghai because of the massive interest and growth potential in China.
 

leo.andres.21

macrumors regular
Oct 14, 2008
227
32
Centre of the Attention
Apple obviously wants to increase their level of innovation, but most of their cash ($97bn) lies overseas. So if they put their R&D overseas in like China, they could take advantage of all that unused cash.
I think this is a smart move by Apple to utilise the cash. The economy is better now than a 3-4 years ago, holding so much cash is not necessary.
 

winston1236

macrumors 68000
Dec 13, 2010
1,902
319
This is what I was thinking, rather than all Apple products changing to Designed By in China, this place will just designing products specifically for them/the Asian market. Where as everywhere else will still have products designed in California.


Not sure i follow. The Chinese already go crazy for iphones and pads, the only problem is cost. This is probably a move to outsource design to save money.
 

sarge

macrumors 6502a
Jul 20, 2003
597
136
Brooklyn
As for human rights abuses honestly very few people in China really care about it. People are more concerned about the air they breath and the baby formula they are feeding their kids. Though I guess having a habitable environment is a human right as well.

I imagine this is exactly why handing the torch over might be of concern
 

robanga

macrumors 68000
Aug 25, 2007
1,657
1
Oregon
THey could flip it to:

Designed in China, Made in the USA

...kidding

Good move for Apple to spread their business into that important market.
 

coolspot18

macrumors 65816
Aug 16, 2010
1,051
90
Canada
The human rights abuses in China are unacceptable and things are not getting better.

And why do you say that? Things in China are much better than 50 or even 20 years ago.

A bit more perspective, the West's hands are not blood free either. Since the 90s, the United States has been involved in at least 4 or 5 major wars? China has been in none.

I think it's hypocritical for people from certain western nations to talk about human rights ...


In anycase, if you've been to China recently, most people happy with how things are. Yes, the country can do with more freedom of speech, better laws, equality, etc, but those things come with time. You don't want an overnight revolution, or else you end up with basket cases like Russia, Libya, IRaq, Afghanistan, etc.
 

lifeinhd

macrumors 65816
Mar 26, 2008
1,428
58
127.0.0.1
While this doesn't wont happen because of this move, the moment I see 'Designed by Apple in China,' on an Apple product I purchase, I'm done with them.

Why? China's economy advancing and them becoming an engineering powerhouse is a good thing for everybody. It increases the world's wealth.
 

topomango

macrumors newbie
Jan 28, 2011
26
30
wow, very good apple strategy: milking as much as possible on Steve's ideas. You do not sell anymore in EU/US? let's expand the market!. Good job Tim, what is next? ipad midi? iphone mini? zero innovation. The same concepts recycled over and over again. It reminds me of Sculley's great ideas in the 80's.
 
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cameraguy

macrumors newbie
Nov 20, 2010
4
0
That tower in that pic sure look allot like the CN Tower in Toronto. Toronto should sue, I'm sure there's a patent on that :rolleyes:
 
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