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Apple confirms new technology development center in India, focusing on Apple Maps

Apple confirms an earlier ZDNet report that the company will open an Apple Maps development center in India.
Written by Jake Smith, Contributor
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Apple is planning a new technology development center in Hyderabad, India,, ZDNet reported last week. Apple confirmed our reporting in a statement on Tuesday, saying it will employ 150 Apple Map specialists.

"We've been investing to expand our operations in India and are thrilled to have passionate customers and a vibrant developer community across the country," a spokesperson for Apple said.

"We are looking forward to opening a new development office in Hyderabad that will be home to over 150 Apple employees supporting maps development. The office will also have space for many contractors who will support our ambitious efforts locally," the company added.

Apple is leasing a 250,000 square-foot facility in Tishman Speyer's WaveRock facility and is set to start in the latter half of this year, we reported. The facility is located in the city's IT corridor and can employ up to 4,500 staff and local contractors.

The move seems to signal Apple is looking to penetrate local developing markets and improve its Maps product.

"It's a very positive development as Apple has not looked at cities only in India, but across many places in Europe and other parts of the world. Their decision to have the facility in Hyderabad is a strong endorsement of the city as a major IT hub in the country," Jayesh Ranjan, Secretary to IT department in the state of Telangana, told ZDNet earlier this week.

Apple isn't the first company to express interest in Hyderabad. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella visited Hyderabad in December and announced plans to expand his company's operations in the state. Google CEO Sundar Pichai also visited the country at the end of last year.

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