Tim Cook talks China's influence on product design in new interview

Tim Cook talks China's influence on product design in new interview

China plays an increasingly important part in Apple's business decisions, including in some product design elements, according to a new interview with Tim Cook.{.intro}

In an interview with the Chinese edition of Bloomberg Businessweek, Apple CEO Tim Cook has said that the company takes the tastes of Chinese consumers into account with many its product designs. For instance, when Apple debuted the gold iPhone 5s in 2013, the Chinese market played a major role in the decision to offer a device in that color, according to Bloomberg:

The decision to offer a gold iPhone last year reflects in part the popularity of that color among Chinese users, he added. Greater China, which includes Taiwan and Hong Kong, is now Apple's second-largest market and has become a battleground for the company as it vies with Samsung Electronics Co. and Xiaomi Corp. for smartphone supremacy.

Since the release of the gold iPhone 5s, Apple has also launched newer phones, iPads, and even their latest MacBook in gold.

Cook also said that Apple would putting resources into a mobile technology education program in China, which features lessons on how to use apps like GarageBand, as well as courses to teach hearing-impaired students operate phones.

China is now Apple's second-biggest market. In the last financial quarter, the company was up 71% in China over the same quarter in 2014. This included 70% growth in iPhone sales, as well as a 31% jump in Mac sales.

Source: Bloomberg

Rihanna
Jordana Brewster
Jennifer Love Hewitt