India's energy impresses Cook

Also pitches for Apple's product manufacturing facility

Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook on Thursday said he was deeply inspired by the vibrancy and energy of the people of India and admired the rich talent pool the country.

Cook inaugurated the company’s technology development centre at Waverock IT Park in Hyderabad.

Talking about the company’s philosophy, Cook said, “Apple has always been about creating the very best products in the world: Perhaps, not the first but always the best. We always try to bring products that enrich people’s lives because we are driven by a culture of changing the world and changing it for the better.”

The Apple CEO said he was looking forward to a long-term relationship with Telangana.

Apple will have a core team of 160 experts at the Hyderabad facility and a total of 4,000-5,000 software engineers would be working from this location as early as January 2017, according to government sources.

This investment will accelerate Maps development and create up to 4,000 jobs, the company said in a statement.

The said Apple’s CEO, “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 our operations.”

Apple has been continually updating and adding new features to Maps, including 3D views, the Flyover feature and tools to help customers find convenient places to shop, eat and explore nearby areas. With iOS 9 Apple added Transit, offering a combination of trains, subways, buses and walking, which is already available for more than 300 cities around the world.

The new facility will provide a world-class, LEED-certified home for the expanding Maps team, it said. Cook had a meeting with Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao, who was invited to the launch.

During the event state IT minister K T Rama Rao requested the Apple CEO to consider setting up of their own campus in the city. At present, the company’s tech center operates out of a leased space in Tishman Speyer-owned Waverock IT Park.