Continuing on his lengthy European tour today, Apple CEO Tim Cook has now stopped in London and had a chat with UK Prime Minister Theresa May. According to a spokesperson for May speaking with Business Insider, the meeting focused on Apple's continued investment in the United Kingdom amid the recent turmoil surrounding Brexit. Overall, the meeting was said to have been "a very positive and useful discussion."
/article-new/2017/02/tim-cook-theresa-may-800x302.jpg?lossy)
"It was a meeting with the prime minister. It was a very positive and useful discussion. Apple have made a recent announcement about their investment in the UK and they had a conversation around that and the importance of government and business on digital skills which going forward will clearly be a huge part of the future industry. It was a chance for the prime minister to outline her plans for negotiating our EU exit. It was also a chance for her to reiterate and welcome Apple's investment in the UK."
The meeting took place at Downing Street at 10AM local time today, and followed Cook's visiting of locations including Marseille, Paris, Vreden, Berlin, and Glasgow. On the Vreden, Germany leg of his trip that took place earlier this week, the Apple CEO even met with Dula, a furniture manufacturer that works with Apple to create some of the furniture and hardware used in Apple's retail stores.
Europe is Apple's second largest market in terms of revenue, and like all other territories the company continues to expand its presence in the area. Last September, it was announced that Apple was working on building a new UK headquarters in London's Battersea Power Station, expected to be complete by 2021. The UK is expected to leave the European Union by 2019, so it appears Cook is using his European trip to prepare Apple for the upcoming shift in UK business and politics happening over the next few years.
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Update: Tim Cook tweeted that he met with the mayor of London today and that he is "incredibly excited about Apple's future in London."
Great to meet @MayorofLondon today. We are incredibly excited about Apple's future in London and the 🇬🇧! https://t.co/pOYdisFAit — Tim Cook (@tim_cook) February 9, 2017
Top Rated Comments
(View all)1. There's no indication that Apple will fork their software to compromise security for the UK or anyone else.
1. I didn't say they would?! What an odd thing to say. The Snoopers' Charter isn't really something within Apple's control, but Cook has expressed concerns about individuals' privacy and data. As such it might be something he could express a view on.2. The PM shouldn't be engaging in price-fixing of any private company. Apple sells for what the market will bear, and they aren't the only brand around.
2. I didn't say she should?! Expressing concern for consumers being charged at heavily increased prices for ageing technology not updated in years would be entirely legitimate and does not equate to price-fixing in any way. More like sensible advice...
I don't actually expect either of them said anything about either issue anyway.
Apple are quickly pricing themselves out of the U.K. Market.