Apple is opening an iOS App Development Center in Naples, Italy. The facility will be the first of its kind in Europe as the U.S. company explores ways to nurture mobile app developers and talent of the future from the region.
The center is designed, as the name suggests, to be a place where aspiring app developers can receive training and mentorship to develop their skills and ability with Apple’s iOS software. It isn’t clear when the Naples-based hub will open, but Apple did say that it will be located at a partner institution in the city. The company added that the program will be expanded to other countries worldwide in the future.
In case you’ve been living in a cave for the past five years or so, mobile apps are big business — and iOS apps, in particular. Though the number of Google Play app downloads was double that of iOS last year, the Apple operating system generated 75 percent more revenue than its competitor, according to data release by App Annie this week. Indeed, Apple raked in more than $1.1 billion from iOS app purchases and in-app purchases during the recent New Year period alone.
Explaining its decision to open the Italy-based center, Apple said its mobile ecosystem has helped developers in Europe earn more than €10.2 billion while it estimates that, in Italy alone, over 75,000 jobs are linked to its App Store.
“Europe is home to some of the most creative developers in the world and we’re thrilled to be helping the next generation of entrepreneurs in Italy get the skills they need for success,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a statement.
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