Apple to set up massive facility in Bangalore

Apple to hire 3,000 by 2007
The Economic Times

BANGALORE: For once, it is not thinking different. Like its fellow global technology majors, Apple Computer too has decided to set up a massive technical support centre in India.

Sources say Apple will hire as many as 1,500 people by the end of this year, and have a total of 3,000 employees by the end of 2007 in its Bangalore facility. This will be the $14 billion firm’s first support centre outside of its Cupertino (California) headquarters.

Sources say the Bangalore facility is being set up for Apple by property developer RMZ Corp in its EcoSpace property on the outer ring road near Marathahalli. RMZ is said to be creating a 1.5 lakh sq ft facility for Apple in the first phase, and 1.5 lakh sq ft in the second phase.

An Apple official said it was premature to talk about the matter. RMZ too declined to comment on it. A state government official said the government had cleared Apple’s proposal to invest in Bangalore. “But they are yet to reveal the extent of investment or the total employment . They should be starting operations within the next two months,’’ the official said.
Sources say the decision to set up the facility in Bangalore was taken after a rigorous examination of seven cities in India. The tech support centre is expected to be on the lines of the one that Dell has in India.

Apple saw a record revenue performance in fiscal 2005 (a growth of 68%), led by the surging popularity of its iPod music players. It is not clear yet whether Apple’s India centre will result in job losses in its Cupertino facility.

JOINING THE BANDWAGON
It will hire 1,500 people by the end of this calendar year
It will have a total of 3,000 people by the end of 2007 in its Bangalore facility
It is creating a 1.5 lakh sq ft facility in the first phase, and 1.5 lakh sq ft in the second phase