“Apple Inc. Chief Executive Tim Cook said he ‘caught a cab’ in Beijing on Monday morning,” Eva Dou reports for The Wall Street Journal. “The tab for that ride — $1 billion.”
“Mr. Cook tweeted photographs of himself learning to hail a ride from the president of China’s answer to Uber Technologies Inc., Didi Chuxing Technology Co., in which the technology giant on Friday announced a $1 billion investment,” Dou reports. “The visit, which also included a meeting with Chinese startups, appeared to be part of a charm offensive aimed at both Chinese regulators and investors wary of Apple’s prospects in its second-largest market. ‘It’s a message to shareholders, saying, ‘Look, we believe in the potential of China,” said Bryan Ma, an analyst for market-research firm IDC.”
“Mr. Cook’s upbeat tone on Monday reflects a strategy common among Western companies of not speaking publicly about regulatory challenges in China,” Dou reports. “An Apple spokeswoman declined to say if Mr. Cook will meet with Chinese regulators during this trip. China’s technology, Internet and content regulators didn’t immediately respond to faxed questions as to whether they planned to meet with Mr. Cook… In shutting down its book and movie services, Chinese regulators cited a new law that restricts licenses to Chinese companies, people familiar with the matter said last month. Apple is considering its options, which include finding a Chinese partner company, one of the people said.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Message: Apple loves China.
SEE ALSO:
Watch Apple CEO Tim Cook make music with Chinese version of GarageBand – May 17, 2016
Apple celebrates Chinese music with GarageBand update – May 16, 2016
Tim Cook visits Apple Store in Beijing, with Didi Chuxing president Liu Qing – May 16, 2016
Why Apple plunked $1 billion into Chinese ride-hailing service Didi Chuxing – May 16, 2016
$1 billion Didi investment marks a major turning point for Apple – May 13, 2016
Tim Cook to visit Beijing with $1 billion in goodwill – May 13, 2015
Why Apple is really investing $1 billion in Didi, China’s version of Uber – May 13, 2016
Uber CEO responds to Apple’s $1 billion investment in Didi Chuxing – May 13, 2016
Things to know about China’s Didi, Apple’s latest $1 billion investment – May 13, 2016
Apple invests $1 billion in Chinese ride-hailing service Didi Chuxing – May 12, 2016
Apple’s battle with China offers a stark reminder of geopolitical risks – May 11, 2016
Apple’s Tim Cook to visit China for high-level government meetings later this month – May 6, 2016
Apple CEO Cook ‘pretty confident’ of soon resuming movie and book sales in China – May 3, 2016
The New Yorker: What Apple has to fear from China – April 30, 2016
China’s increasing censorship hits Apple, but Apple might punch back – April 22, 2016
China shutters Apple’s online book and movie services – April 22, 2016
So when Apple got approval from Chinese regulators to market th iPhone in China after years of planning, the pundits said it (China) was no big deal…
When Steve Jobs was CEO, he was constantly defamed, bashed, belittled and criticized…but now the same idiot pundits say that “Tim Cook is no Steve Jobs” and that innovation at aPple is over now that Stev is no loger around…
There’s a new generation of know nothings that buy the hype and what they consider the crediblie press, their ignorance and misdirected arrogance will bring upon them the inheritance of idiocracy which they well deserve….
Same as it ever was….blablabla.
Only Nixon could go to China.
I read that a large reason iTunes and iBooks were blocked was due to the movie, “Ten Years Hong Kong.” The Chinese government banned the movie however it was available through iTunes. I cannot find it now.
90% of the role of any CEO is to be a cheerleader. Obviously Cook’s upbeat, that’s why he got the gig.