The Chinese Apple

Apple released their new iPhone 4S in China today.

After stores opened, a crush from customers waiting outside forced the company to suspend sales throughout the country. Violence ensued outside these stores as the largest mobile phone market battered down the doors of Apple re-sellers.

Earlier in the week I listened to This American Life's latest podcast. It tells the story of Mike Daisey and his experience in Schengen factories. This is where these phones and tablets are made. They are made by under-paid, over-worked and faceless employees with little rights or respect.

At both the retail end and the construction end, there is a very uncomfortable relationship here. Apple have created massive demand for the product through their innovation, but also through their manipulation of the market. A manipulation they are afforded by exemptions from the Chinese authorities due to their large investment at the manufacturing end.

The company it seems, like their products, are becoming ever more pervasive in leading world economies.

-The English Student