In China, an extremely important market that accounts for nearly one-fifth of Apple's global revenues, the Apple Watch has sold more than one million units, according to a new estimate by a Chinese company called TalkingData.
The numbers, shared by Business Insider, indicate that sales of the Apple wearable in the 1.33 billion people market have exceeded 1.07 million total devices.
Apple CEO Tim Cook made a rare move today by responding to an email from CNBC's Jim Cramer. Cook's letter, a copy of which was obtained by Business Insider, addresses the company's quarter so far and basically says that everything's fine with Apple's business and performance in China.
Apple's stock has been declining since the company's June quarter earnings showed iPhone sales coming slightly below investors' expectations. This morning, $AAPL fell below $100 amid bigger stock market woes as most indices are in the red today.
Though designed in California, the vast majority of Apple's products are being assembled in China using parts predominantly provided by the vast network of suppliers from Taiwan.
But that may be changing now as Japanese manufacturers are reportedly making a concerted effort to secure more iPhone orders from Apple, according to DigiTimes on Monday.
Citing industry sources, the trade publication claims that Japan-based printed circuit board manufacturer Ibiden has bolstered up its manufacturing capacity as it hopes to solicit more orders from Apple.
During Tim Cook's visit to China last week, the CEO held a meeting at Apple's headquarters in the country to give employees an update on recent happenings. Citing sources with knowledge of the assembly, 9to5Mac provides an overview of everything that was talked about, and there are some rather interesting tidbits.
For starters, Cook told attendees that "the Watch could not be going better," and that "Apple is working really hard on making more." He also seemingly confirmed reports that the company has solved some of its supply chain issues, promising that Apple stores will begin carrying Watch inventory sometime next month.
Amid rumors, Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged in an interview with Xinhua news agency on Monday that Apple is working to bring Apple Pay to China.
Cook told the Chinese news agency: "We very much want to get Apple Pay in China. I'm very bullish on Apple Pay in China," signaling the company is working quick to bring its new mobile payments service to another region besides the US.
During his current visit to Beijing to announce new environmental initiatives, Apple's chief executive Tim Cook has opened an account on Weibo, China's popular micro-blogging platform resembling Twitter.
The company's newly-announced environmental initiatives in China are the topic of Cook's first post. “Hello China! Happy to be back in Beijing, announcing innovative new environmental programs,” his Weibo post reads.
The message is accompanied by a Chinese translation. Cook's Weibo presence is verified and the account had nearly 400,000 followers at post time.
"Siri, how does it feel to be a winner?"
A Chinese appeals court has put an end to a three year patent battle over Apple's Siri voice recognition found on its iOS line. AFP reports that Apple has won an appeal in China over the patents, overturning an earlier decision that put Apple in the guilty chair.
Apple's efforts to bring Apple Pay technology to China, a region that could help boost payment numbers, are stalling, according to Caixin Online.
Despite earlier word that a deal between Apple and China's UnionPay is close, Caixin Online says neither party has reached any agreements and no timetable for cooperation has been set.
With less than 24 hours until Apple Watch pre-orders begin, the Cupertino firm has issued a media release advising customers to reserve their unit online because “we expect that strong customer demand will exceed our supply at launch”.
Moreover, the company will be now taking orders for the device exclusively online “during the initial launch period.”
Bloomberg reports Samsung has been chosen by Apple to make chips for the next iPhone, taking the business from Taiwan Semiconductor.
Samsung has reclaimed its spot as Apple's supplier. TSMC made the chips for the iPhone 6, however before that, Samsung's chips were king for iPhones.
Apple's been making some impressive strides in China, its second-biggest market by revenue and home to a population of 1.33 billion people.
On the weight of strong sales of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus, the Cupertino firm has now hit an all-time high share, with iOS accounting for a record 27.6 percent volume share of the Chinese smartphone market versus 17.9 percent a year ago.
Kantar data for the three months ending in February proves the iPhone 6 has remained the country's top-selling smartphone in the period. It's grown from 9.5 percent of sales recorded in the previous period ending in January to 10.2 percent ending in February. Xiaomi's iPhone 6 Plus lookalike, the RedMI Note, took the second spot, followed by Apple's 5.5-inch phablet-class iPhone 6 Plus, which grabbed the third place.
Following an expanded trade-in program in the United States which offers store credits to Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone users looking to jump ship, Apple has now rolled out its iPhone and iPad trade-in initiative in Greater China, South China Morning Post reported Wednesday.
Available in all of Apple's eighteen retail stores across the country, customers can now trade in their old devices for an Apple Store Gift Card, which can be used toward a new device purchase.