Apple Reportedly Plans Tech Support Center In India

BANGALORE, India — Apple Computer will set up a large technical support center in Bangalore, with plans to hire up to 3,000 staff by the end of 2007. This will be the company’s first such center outside its Cupertino headquarters, according to a report in The Times of India.

The report quoted an undisclosed realty source as saying that Apple will take up 150,000 square feet of office space in the first phase of its operations, and a similar space in the next phase.

An official in the Karnataka state government is quoted as saying that Apple’s proposal to invest in Bangalore had been cleared. "But they are yet to reveal the extent of investment or the total employment. They should be starting operation within the next two months," the official is quoted as saying.

The report said Bangalore was chosen after examining six other cities in the country, but also said it is not known if setting up the Bangalore center will mean cutting jobs at Cupertino.