Apple will open its first developer centre in Europe later this year.
The move comes amid a testy relationship between Apple and Europe. While the company has long had a heavy presence in the continent, it has more recently sparred with European regulators, who have argued that the company has abused its power over its platforms and forced it to make a number of changes for European users.
The developer centre is one of a number of such institutions across the world, including its home of Cupertino in California as well as Bengaluru, Cupertino, Shanghai, and Singapore. The its first in Europe, in Berlin, will open later this year.
The developer centres are intended as a service for those making apps for its platforms. They allow the company to hold in-person sessions and workshops as well as one-on-one appointments between third-party developers and the company’s employees.
“Europe is home to an extraordinary community of developers who are building apps that create connections, encourage creativity, and drive innovation,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of worldwide developer relations.
“We have always believed that when developers have the right tools and resources to do their best work, incredible things follow. That belief is what this center is built on, and we look forward to seeing what the community continues to develop.”
The launch comes amid the ongoing fight between Apple and European regulators, some of which has focused on its terms with developers. Politicians have forced Apple to make a number of changes for users in Europe, including the ability to choose where they download apps from.
Supports of those changes argue that they give users more choice and open up the platform, as well as limiting Apple’s control of the devices that it makes. But Apple has repeatedly argued that the changes make its users less safe.
The launch of the Berlin developer centre also comes amid some criticism from some developers towards Apple’s policies. Its critics argue that some of the rules on its platforms – including the 30 per cent fee that Apple takes from any digital purchases made on its platforms – are unfair to developers, and that they should be offered more choice.