Apple has been ordered to stop selling the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in the capitol – get this – because the phone’s design is too similar to the Shenzhen 100C smartphone. Horses and carts, that.
There are six counterfeit iPhones produced in China. Apple is playing in a casino where the only decks are the stacked decks. Not enough they’re stealing brazenly, they’ve even ripped off the iOS, and Apple stores.
But things aren’t coincidental in China, which is Apple’s largest market outside the U.S.
In April, the company was ordered to close its iBooks and iTunes Movies stores. Why? Because the Chinese Government is making it harder for foreign owners to publish online content – without a local partner…and of course, government approval. That smacks of “we want a piece of the pie”. To Apple customers, it’ll mean higher prices somewhere along the line.
So, this is the probable reason for why Apple’s CEO Tim Cook visited China in May…that and Apple’s 11% fall in sales – first ever, announced in April.
Oh, and Apple recently invested $1 billion in a Chinese ride-hailing company (DiDi Chuxing), “For strategic reasons”, Cook said. Right. The strategy? To continue to do business in China. I wonder which Chinese General/politician owns that company?
Why does all this matter, really? Because Apple customers will pay the price, as will America.
Right…the cost of doing business. I wonder when the Federal government will start investigating Apple for illegal business practices, because it’s pretty obvious why there’s a sudden $1 billion dollar investment in an existing app. Don’t misunderstand. I’m on Apple’s side. It’s not getting much protection from our government…and I doubt any other company is, either.
What’s the incentive to innovate if your products and ideas are being ripped off at will?
Sources:
https://techcrunch.com/2016/06/17/apple-ordered-to-stop-selling-two-iphone-models-in-china/
http://mashable.com/2016/06/17/apple-china-knockoffs/#67_B2TfjkPqL