Tim Cook Heads Back to China as Retail Presence Nearly Doubles

[MacRumors]

Bloomberg reports that Apple CEO Tim Cook is in the midst of a return trip to China, some ten months after his last trip to meet with government and business leaders.

Cook today met Miao Wei, head of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, to talk about the development of China's information technology industry, global mobile communications and Apple's business in China, according to a statement posted on the ministry's website.

The report notes that Apple has nearly doubled the number of its retail stores in China and Hong Kong since Cook's last visit, having opened five new stores for a total of 11 company-owned stores in the region.

Apple's new Wangfujing retail store in Beijing

Cook's schedule for the remainder of his visit has not been released, although The Next Web notes that U.S. embassy Chief of Staff Jim Scuitto posted a Tweet revealing that Cook had met with U.S. ambassador Gary Locke.

There will also undoubtedly be speculation that Cook may be seeking to finalize an iPhone deal with China Mobile, the world's largest carrier and the only one of China's three major state-owned carrier to not officially offer the device. Cook had visited the carrier's headquarters in June 2011, but no deal has yet been announced amid continuing negotiations.

China Mobile is reportedly losing traction with 3G customers as rivals China Telecom and China Unicom have made inroads, with many believing that China Mobile's lack of the iPhone is a major weakness for the carrier.

Article Link: Tim Cook Heads Back to China as Retail Presence Nearly Doubles

[yod]

A meeting at Foxconn's factory to discuss the whole "doubling down" on secrecy might help...

[Joe-Diver]

Cook and Nixon.....China bound!

[MonkeySee....]

The picture of the Wangfujing retail store in Beijing is stunning.

What a store!

[gregwyattjr]

I wonder why that iPad billboard is in english...

[Navdakilla]

Once Apple takes over China. Checkmate

[Vinamra]

Originally Posted by MonkeySee....

The picture of the Wangfujing retail store in Beijing is stunning.

What a store!

Things money can buy!

[bazinga!!]

China Mobile=

[iMikeT]

Makes sure those Foxconn workers are being treated properly while you're there Timmy.

[ryuok]

Tim is there to find out what happened to his egg fried rice order.

[JHankwitz]

Originally Posted by iMikeT

Makes sure those Foxconn workers are being treated properly while you're there Timmy.

On average, 11,000 workers are injured and 13 are killed on the job every day in America according to OSHA, and you're concerned that Tim Cook is personally making sure that Foxconn workers are being treated properly? Good grief!

[joneill55]

Global villiage were living in for sure!

[Prof.]

Originally Posted by gregwyattjr

I wonder why that iPad billboard is in english...

Because China has more english-speaking citizens than America has citizens.

[F1 Fan]

Originally Posted by JHankwitz

On average, 11,000 workers are injured and 13 are killed on the job every day in America according to OSHA, and you're concerned that Tim Cook is personally making sure that Foxconn workers are being treated properly? Good grief!

How many of those are employed by Apple or by a company which completely relies on Apple's business and are not covered by US health and safety law? He is in a position to directly impact the lives of Foxconn employees and I think he should use that position to ensure that their conditions are acceptable.

[SmileyBlast!]

It'd be great if he could find some alternate suppliers. But more suppliers means expanding that circle of trust and More leaks. It'd be a good strategy to be able to take business away from one supplier in favor of the one who will not release Apple secrets though.

[CrickettGrrrl]

It is a beautiful building but I don't like the giant billboard. Visually it's squishing the apple logo. The billboard (while a pretty nice version of a giant ad) seems cheezy compared to the rest of the structure.

[Glassed Silver]

Originally Posted by gregwyattjr

I wonder why that iPad billboard is in english...

Pretty much anyone able to afford the iPad in China knows English.
Either as mother tongue, tourist or "rich kid" (in relation to the rest of China).

Glassed Silver:mac

[Caliber26]

I wish Apple would build one of those big, iconic stores here in Orlando. I'm so jealous of Asia, Europe, and NYC.

[MadDawg2020]

since they have doubled their retail presence in China, it would be interesting to see how this has cut in to the counterfeit stores presence...?

[iMikeT]

Originally Posted by JHankwitz

On average, 11,000 workers are injured and 13 are killed on the job every day in America according to OSHA, and you're concerned that Tim Cook is personally making sure that Foxconn workers are being treated properly? Good grief!

I think all workers around the world deserve more than adequate working conditions. It's just that we United Statesians seem to be ok with lackluster working conditions that people in another part of the world have just so they can make products cheaper for us to use.

[pantss]

Originally Posted by MonkeySee....

The picture of the Wangfujing retail store in Beijing is stunning.

What a store!

[AidenShaw]

Originally Posted by pantss

Image

Image

Am I the only one who looks at that as a failed attempt at using traditional Chinese architecture with Apple's tired "it's all glass" look, marred with a "Times Squarish" giant LED ad screen.

It's horrible. It's truly dreadful. Apple has lost its way....

The night shot is kind of cool though - since all the other crap disappears.

[coolspot18]

Originally Posted by MadDawg2020

since they have doubled their retail presence in China, it would be interesting to see how this has cut in to the counterfeit stores presence...?

The counterfeit stores were selling grey market goods... I'm sure there are still plenty of them. With billion consumers (even if only 10% can afford Apple goods) there are still not enough stores to service them all.

BTW, my local Costco was selling grey market Apple MacBooks!!!

[pantss]

Originally Posted by AidenShaw

Am I the only one who looks at that as a failed attempt at using traditional Chinese architecture with Apple's tired "it's all glass" look, marred with a "Times Squarish" giant LED ad screen.

It's horrible. It's truly dreadful. Apple has lost its way....

The night shot is kind of cool though - since all the other crap disappears.

I was there in december when they were still setting up. Don't mind the slanted photos - those were random hip shots and my hands were freezing off

To be honest I didn't recognize the 'official' photo until I read 'wangfujing'.

----------

Originally Posted by AidenShaw

Am I the only one who looks at that as a failed attempt at using traditional Chinese architecture with Apple's tired "it's all glass" look, marred with a "Times Squarish" giant LED ad screen.

It's horrible. It's truly dreadful. Apple has lost its way....

The night shot is kind of cool though - since all the other crap disappears.

and oh. there's a samsung billboard right across the road. if you look at the night shot carefully you'll see the reflection of SAMSUNG on the right side of the photo. lol.

[AidenShaw]

Originally Posted by pantss

and oh. there's a samsung billboard right across the road. if you look at the night shot carefully you'll see the reflection of SAMSUNG on the right side of the photo. lol.

...more evidence that Apple has lost its way.

Apple has to build a bigger, flashier store across the street from Samsung?