Apple opening an app development center in India

Apple plans to open a new high-end app development center in Bengaluru, India, according to a new report, citing people familiar with the company’s plans.

The report claims that Apple has already come to terms concerning a 40,000 square foot office space, spread across two floors. It is likely that this space will house around 300 people, and will open in early 2017.

This will mark Apple’s third new office facility in India this year. The goal of the facility is to support the company’s growing number of local iOS developers — with support and guidance for Swift development, among other things.

Earlier this year, Apple announced its plans to invest $25 million in a new office complex in India, while several months ago Apple also revealed plans to open a new office in Indian tech hub Hyderabad that will focus on improving Apple Maps.

While Apple no doubt hopes to tap into India’s considerable tech talent, the investment in India does also come with another benefit. This year Apple has been involved with a “will they, won’t they” tussle to win the right to open official Apple Stores in India. Right now, it seems like Apple has gotten a multi-year exemption to India’s insistence that it sources a set number of its products from inside the country.

Still, initiatives like this have the added advantage of demonstrating Apple’s level of commitment to India — which can never be a bad thing.

Source: Economic Times

Luke Dormehl

Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.