Apple walks the talk, opens Maps development office in Hyderabad

Technology giant Apple on showed where its priorities lie, with the opening of its new office in Hyderabad that will focus on development of Maps for products like iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao inaugurated the facility in presence of Apple CEO Tim Cook and state IT Minister K T Rama Rao.

"We are thrilled to open this new office in Hyderabad which will focus on Maps development," Cook said.

"The talent here in the local area is incredible and we are looking forward to expanding our relationships and introducing more universities and partners to our platforms as we scale up our operations."

Though the California-based company did not reveal the quantum of investment, it maintained that the capital will help accelerate Maps development and create up to 4,000 jobs.

Cook acknowledged that the maker of popular gadgets may not be the first to invent products, but always tries to give the best.

"Apple has always been about creating the very best products in the world. Nevertheless, perhaps not the first, but always the best," the Apple CEO said during the inauguration of the facility.

"We always try to bring products that would enrich people's lives. Because we are driven by a culture of changing the world and changing it for the better."

Apple on Wednesday announced a new initiative to support engineering talent and accelerate growth in India's iOS developer community.

Cook, on a maiden five-day visit to the country, is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his trip.

"I travelled to India this week knowing about the culture, knowing about the people and I learnt a lot about all of those. And I still have a lot to learn. But most of all, I believe India is inspiring and I am deeply inspired by the vibrancy of the people, the energy, the enthusiasm, and the incredible talent," Cook said.

K T Rama Rao requested the technology behemoth to set up its own campus here and also partner with in T-Hub, a technological incubator started by the state government.

Apple has been continuously updating and adding new features to Maps, including 3D views, Flyover and tools to help customers find convenient places to shop, eat and explore nearby areas, the statement said.

With iOS 9, Apple added Transit, offering a combination of trains, subways, buses and walk, which is already available for more than 300 cities around the world.

The new facility, located on the Waverock campus, will provide a world-class, LEED-certified home for the expanding Maps team, the statement said.

According to the Telangana chief minister, the state is "honoured" that Apple chose Hyderabad as a home for its Maps development office.

"This will create thousands of jobs here and is a testament to our proactive approach, quality infrastructure and the excellent talent base we have in the region," he said.

CEO of RMSI, a global IT services company providing GIS, modeling and analytics and software services, Anup Jindal said, "Apple is one of the most innovative companies in the world. We are very proud they chose us to partner with for this important project."

Apple supports over 6,40,000 iOS app developer jobs and other positions related to the iOS ecosystem across India, the statement added.