The Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EECO) is working with Pattaya City of Chonburi province on the NEO Pattaya project with an aim to promote investment and tourism in Pattaya City and Koh Lan, a resort island off the coast of Pattaya, said Sonthaya Kunplome, mayor of Pattaya City on Friday.
“The NEO Pattaya project started in 2018, when I first became the mayor,” he said. “It aims to develop Pattaya City as an economic and investment hub in EEC areas which span across three provinces of Chonburi, Rayong and Chachoengsao. The project will make the city ready for expanding economy, tourism and employment brought about by the EEC investments.”
Sonthaya added that Pattaya City has drafted and implemented the first phase of development plan for 2018 to 2022 which covers five aspects of development, namely economy, society, environment, culture and integration. “The second phase plan, which will be implemented from 2022 to 2027, has already been approved by the EECO. The office aims to attract up to 2.2 trillion baht worth of investment in EEC areas in the year 2022, while currently the total investment in 2021 is at 1.6 trillion baht.”
Mayor of Pattaya added that currently the city has ongoing six development projects from the total of 14 projects under the first phase development plan, whereas eight projects have already been completed. “Next year we have asked for a budget of 77 million baht to continue these projects, while aiming to generate up to ten times the investment value in return,” he said. “These projects include the development of tourist attractions in Old Town of Na Klua subdistrict, which expect to attract 1.2 million tourists per year and generate an income of 900 million baht annually.”
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index closed at 1,645.06 on Friday, down 5.96 points or 0.36 per cent. Transactions totalled 102.89 billion baht with an index high of 1,656.27 and a low of 1,641.52.
The index fell after rising by 6.42 points or 0.39 per cent on Thursday.
In the morning session, Krungsri Securities forecast the day’s index would fluctuate between 1,640-1,660 points.
It said the index gained positive sentiment from Thailand economic and SET-listed firms’ profit forecasts that they would recover in the fourth quarter this year. Mass buy-ups of shares that gained specific positive sentiment would help boost the index, it added.
“However, the index would be under pressure due to uncertainty over the US Federal Reserve would raise interest rate sooner than expected to deal with rising inflation,” Krungsri Securities predicted.
The 10 stocks with the highest trade value today were SCB, TRUE, EA, KBANK, BBL, GUNKUL, DTAC, GPSC, MONO and PTT.
Other Asian indices were mixed:
Japan’s Nikkei Index closed at 29,745.87, up 147.21 points or 0.50 per cent.
China’s Shanghai SE Composite closed at 3,560.37, up 39.66 points or 1.13 per cent, while the Shenzhen SE Component closed at 14,752.49, up 173.32 points or 1.19 per cent.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index closed at 25,049.97, down 269.75 points or 1.07 per cent.
South Korea’s KOSPI Index closed at 2,971.02, up 23.64 points or 0.80 per cent.
Taiwan’s TAIEX Index closed at 17,818.31, down 23.06 points or 0.13 per cent.
Thailand’s private sector is getting ready to host Apec Business Advisory Council (ABAC) forums next year now that Thailand has taken over as chair of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec).
Supant Mongkolsuthree, who chairs the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), said Apec’s private arm ABAC was responsible for advising economic leaders on operations related to free-trade agreements as well as facilitating trade and investment.
ABAC comprises 61 members from the 21 Apec countries, and Thailand is represented by the FTI, the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) and Thai Bankers Association (TBA).
Supant said ABAC’s work focus on five key aspects:
• Promoting regional economic cooperation
• Utilising 5G technology to prevent cyberattacks
• Paying attention to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)
• Promoting Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) economic models to reduce carbon emissions
• Developing a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) system
For 2022, he said, ABAC will focus on three key themes:
• Embrace: Getting ready for new opportunities and connections after the global economic slowdown.
• Engage: Gathering ideas and cooperation to set up a new economic direction for the future.
• Enable: Enhancing economic potential to make everything possible.
“We believe Thailand is ready to hold ABAC forums next year, which will allow government and private leaders to share their vision,” he said.
“The forums will also contribute to the tourism industry’s recovery as thousands of leaders from the 21 Apec countries, with large working groups and entourages, will arrive in Thailand to attend meetings,” he said.
NIA Collaborates with Business Finland on ‘Innovation Diplomacy’ to Push Thailand to Innovative Country
Bangkok, 18th November 2021 – The National Innovation Agency (Public Organization) or NIA today signs a memorandum of collaboration with Business Finland, a state agency promoting investment on innovation of Finland, to expand collaboration on innovation and business development between Thailand and the Republic of Finland for 3 years period, in continuation from 2018, with emphasis on international innovation development in a variety of dimension, comprising BCG economy, digital business development, startup business promotion, upgrading of entrepreneurial abilities of youths, and foresight promotion. This collaboration is a part of the ‘innovation diplomacy’ that will help push for innovations of the country and will also help create the image of Thailand in becoming an ‘innovative country’.
Dr. Pun-arj Chairatana, Director of National Innovation Agency (Public Organization) or NIA said that “NIA has set its own guidelines on development of ‘innovation diplomacy’ continuously by using international relations to help push for innovation of Thailand, basing on strategic cooperation with state agencies having similar roles and missions to NIA and international organizations with innovation potential to upgrade Thailand innovations to international level and to develop the image of Thailand in becoming an “innovative country” in the eyes of the world community.
NIA Collaborates with Business Finland on ‘Innovation Diplomacy’ to Push Thailand to Innovative Country
In the past, NIA and Business Finland had signed a memorandum of collaboration since 2018, when NIA paid a courtesy visit to Mr. Jari Gustafsson, the Permanent Secretary and Assistant Minister of Economic Affairs and Employment of the Republic of Finland at the House of State, Helsinki. Thereafter, NIA has been in collaboration with the Embassy of Finland in Thailand and the Royal Thai Embassy in Helsinki throughout. Since then there have been held consultation meetings on innovation business development guidelines and promotion of innovation operators of both countries, including many academic innovation knowledge exchange activities, such as, Fuse@Bangkok Seminar on Innovation Organization and Innovation for Sustainability, or on-line seminar on the topic of promotion of business operators during COVID-19, etc.
“As for this signing, it is an extension of the collaboration period for another 3 years, with a plan for development of collaboration on innovations in continuation from previous works regarding BCG Economy according to the strategic plan of the Thai Government, be it city development and promotion of potential of business operators, digital business development, promotion of startup businesses of both countries via Global Startup Hub and Landing Pads Program, promotion of trade and investment of potential companies. Also, there will be a development of collaboration in respect of upgrading of abilities of university students and youths via entrepreneurial university development networks, as well as foresight collaboration promotion between NIA and state agencies and private entities of Finland, so that the development of innovation ecosystem of the two countries may cover every dimension”.
NIA Collaborates with Business Finland on ‘Innovation Diplomacy’ to Push Thailand to Innovative Country
H.E. Mr. Jyri Jarviaho, the Ambassador of the Republic of Finland to Thailand, the representative of the Republic of Finland said that
“We are very pleased with today’s signing as it will pave the way for Business Finland and NIA’s deepening collaboration for the next three years. These both organizations have wide range of expertise for innovation, start up support, digital economy, circular and green economy solutions, business partnering and financing. We know that modern innovation ecosystems are not build in isolation, but rather in collaboration with partners and experts around the globe. Therefore and in order to both countries to boost their innovation ecosystems, it is crucial to build such partnerships between Thailand and Finland”.
The baht opened at 32.58 to the US dollar on Friday, unchanged from Thursday’s closing rate.
The Thai currency is likely to move between 32.50 and 32.65 to the greenback during the day, Krungthai Bank market strategist Poon Panichpibool predicted.
Poon said that the baht might strengthen if the dollar weakens. The dollar will weaken if the UK’s retail report is better than expected and cause the pound to strengthen.
The baht strengthen to near the key resistance level at 32.50 to the dollar, which is the level that foreign investors expected. The baht will not strengthen much more if there is no new factor. Foreign investors are also selling the baht which will cause the baht to slow down in strengthening.
For the key resistance level, importers are waiting to buy the dollar at 32.50 to the dollar. Meanwhile, the market is also in a risk-off state in the short term which causes foreign investors to not invest in Thai stocks.
Moreover, the gold price that fell down might cause investors to buy on dips and pressure the baht to weaken.
The price of gold dropped by THB50 in morning trade on Friday.
A9.21am report from the Gold Traders Association showed the buying price of gold bar at THB28,650 per baht weight and selling price at THB28,750, while the buying and selling price of gold ornaments is THB28,136.96 and THB29,250, respectively.
At close on Thursday, the buying price of gold bar was THB28,700 per baht weight and selling price THB28,800, while gold ornaments were THB28,182.44 and THB29,300, respectively.
The spot gold price on Friday morning was moving around US$1,862 (THB60,681) per ounce after Comex gold at close on Thursday dropped by $8.8 to $1,861.4 per ounce due to pressure from concerns that the latest data which indicates the strength of the US labour market and economy may push the Federal Reserve to raise interest rate faster than expected.
AIA Group Limited (the “Company”; stock code: 1299) today announces key new business indicators for the nine months ended 30 September 2021.
KEY FINANCIAL SUMMARY
Growth rates are shown on a constant exchange rate basis.
• Value of new business (VONB) of US$2,549 million, up 15 per cent
• Annualised new premiums (ANP) up 6 per cent to US$4,309 million
• VONB margin up 5.1 pps to 58.9 per cent
• Total weighted premium income (TWPI) up 3 per cent to US$27,463 million
“AIA has reported strong VONB growth of 15 per cent for the nine months ended 30 September. We have maintained good momentum and delivered very strong VONB growth of 20 per cent on a like-for-like basis. Excluding Hong Kong, where sales to Mainland Chinese visitors remain extremely limited due to ongoing travel restrictions, the Group’s VONB exceeded the pre-pandemic level of the first nine months of 2019.Lee Yuan Siong, AIA’s Group Chief Executive and President, said:
“In Mainland China, we are making good progress growing our Premier Agency in our new cities and I am delighted that AIA China has recently received regulatory approval to commence operations in Wuhan, Hubei. I am also encouraged by the early positive results from our new bancassurance partnership with The Bank of East Asia in Mainland China and Hong Kong.
“Across the Group, we are leveraging the power of technology, digital and analytics to enable the execution of our strategic priorities and further extend our competitive advantages. While the pandemic continues to disrupt some of our markets, AIA’s performance demonstrates the benefits of our diversification across Asia and the resilience of our business model that has been enhanced by technology.
“I am confident that we will remain focused on the execution of our growth strategy and deliver sustainable value for all of our stakeholders as we help millions more people live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives.”
SUMMARY FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2021
In the first nine months of 2021, VONB of US$2,549 million for the Group increased by 15 per cent compared to the corresponding period in 2020. We have maintained good momentum and delivered very strong VONB growth of 20 per cent on a like-for-like basis. VONB for the Group outside Hong Kong remained above the pre-pandemic level of 2019.
AIA China continued to be the largest contributor to the Group’s VONB and delivered double-digit VONB growth in the first nine months of 2021 on a like-for-like basis. Our differentiated Premier Agency model has generated significantly higher agent productivity compared to the first nine months of 2020. Average agent incomes have exceeded the pre-pandemic levels of 2019, supporting agent recruitment and retention. While traditional protection products remain the largest contributor to our VONB, we have achieved strong sales from our expanded suite of long-term savings products as we deepen our share of customer wallet. We continue to make good progress as we establish and grow our Premier Agency in new cities to AIA China. We also recently received approval from the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission Hubei Bureau to commence operations in Wuhan, Hubei.
Our business in Hong Kong reported very strong VONB growth, driven by an excellent performance from our domestic customer segment. Sales to Mainland Chinese visitors remained limited as a result of ongoing travel restrictions. Over the first nine months of 2021, our Premier Agency has delivered sequential VONB growth quarter by quarter. We also achieved strong growth in our bancassurance channel, supported by an encouraging start from our new partnership with The Bank of East Asia that commenced in early July.
Both AIA Singapore and AIA Malaysia delivered VONB growth for the first nine months of 2021. In the third quarter of 2021, tighter pandemic restrictions contributed to reduced VONB compared to the very strong performances from both businesses in the third quarter of 2020. Supported by increased adoption of digital tools, we have grown active agent numbers and productivity in our Premier Agency in both markets.
Excluding AIA Vietnam, VONB from Other Markets in the first nine months of 2021 was above the corresponding period in 2020 on a like-for-like basis. The more infectious Delta variant of COVID-19 has had a significant effect on several markets within this reportable segment during the third quarter of 2021. Vietnam experienced unprecedented levels of infection and lockdowns compared to a largely unaffected third quarter in 2020. While significantly higher adoption of remote sales processes helped to mitigate the impacts of pandemic restrictions on sales activity, VONB from Other Markets was slightly lower in the first nine months of 2021 on a like-for-like basis.
AIA Thailand has delivered excellent VONB growth, driven by strong performances from both our agency and bancassurance channels. Our very strong growth momentum of the first half of 2021 has continued in the third quarter.
Overall, VONB margin for the first nine months of 2021 of 58.9 per cent increased 5.1 pps, driven by product mix shift, reduced acquisition expense overruns and higher government bond yields. The VONB margin is stated net of acquisition expense overruns, and the long-term investment return assumptions remain unchanged from those shown in our Annual Report 2020. Margin reported on a present value of new business premium (PVNBP) basis was 10 per cent, an increase from 9 per cent for the first nine months of 2020. ANP of US$4,309 million increased by 6 per cent and TWPI increased by 3 per cent to US$27,463 million over the same period.
OUTLOOK
Rising incomes, low levels of private insurance penetration and limited social welfare coverage continue to drive structural demand for AIA’s insurance products across Asia. Our substantial competitive advantages enable us to leverage this demand to generate sustainable long-term growth. While the global economy has recovered strongly in 2021, the ongoing effects of the pandemic have slowed the pace of growth in the third quarter. We continue to see disruption from pandemic restrictions and increased claims in some of our markets, particularly where vaccination levels are low. Despite near-term uncertainty, we are confident that the execution of our strategic priorities will build on our strong track record of growth and generate long-term shareholder value.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE VOLATILITY
AIA receives the vast majority of its premiums in local currencies and we closely match our local assets and liabilities to minimise the economic effects of foreign exchange movements. When reporting the Group’s consolidated figures, there is a currency translation effect as we report in US dollars. We have provided growth rates and commentaries on CER unless otherwise stated, since this provides a clearer picture of the underlying performance of the businesses.
AstraZenecas Covid-19 antibody cocktail was more than 80% successful at both preventing symptomatic disease for six months and stopping the illness from worsening, demonstrating its ability to provide strong and long-lasting protection.
The medicine reduced the risk of developing symptomatic Covid in high-risk people by 83% in one of the trials after a six-month follow-up, the company said Thursday. The other one, which involved outpatient participants with mild to moderate illness, found the cocktail cut the risk of severe disease or death by 88% if given within three days.
The results pointed to better protection than the initial data even as the delta variant surged, a relief for the British drugmaker after a shaky start. Astra’s first trial failed to prevent symptomatic disease in people explicitly exposed to the virus. The company applied for U.S. emergency authorization for the product in the prevention setting last month and has a deal to deliver 700,000 doses to the country if cleared.
The U.K. has started an expedited review of the drug, and Astra plans to file for authorization in the European Union shortly. The product, which is delivered via an injection, will be priced commercially but the company will ensure it’s “affordable,” Iskra Reic, head of Astra’s new vaccines and immune therapies unit, told reporters Thursday.
“At the end of the day, our premium objective is to ensure broad access to patients who have a need,” Reic said.
The data from both trials — known as Provent and Tackle — add to positive outcomes reported earlier this year. Astra also plans to do a pediatric trial for the monoclonal antibody, according to Chief Executive Officer Pascal Soriot.
The Provent trial was designed specifically for people who may not respond adequately to vaccines, such as transplant patients and those undergoing chemotherapy. There were no cases of severe Covid-19 or related deaths among those receiving the drug in those tests. In the placebo arm, five people developed severe versions of the disease and two died, the company said.
The Tackle outpatient trial also focused on those at risk of severe disease with conditions including cancer, diabetes and obesity. About 52% of participants identified as Hispanic or Latino. Both trials found the cocktail was generally well-tolerated.
An initial readout from the Provent trial in August showed the drug prevented symptomatic disease in high-risk individuals by 77%. In results published in October from the Tackle trial, the drug was shown to halve the risk of mild to moderate disease worsening if given within seven days of symptoms.
The data indicate that the drug can provide “my vulnerable patients with the long-lasting protection they urgently need,” Hugh Montgomery, professor of intensive-care medicine at University College London and principal investigator on the the trial, said in a statement.
Apple is pushing to accelerate development of its electric car and is refocusing the project around full self-driving capabilities, according to people familiar with the matter, aiming to solve a technical challenge that has bedeviled the auto industry.
For the past several years, Apple’s car team had explored two simultaneous paths: creating a model with limited self-driving capabilities focused on steering and acceleration — similar to most current cars from Tesla — or a version with full self-driving ability that doesn’t require human intervention.
Under the effort’s new leader — Apple Watch software executive Kevin Lynch — engineers are now concentrating on the second option. Lynch is pushing for a car with a full self-driving system in the first version, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations are private.
It’s just the latest shift for the car effort, known as the Special Projects Group or “Project Titan,” which has endured strategy changes and executive turnover since starting around 2014. In September, the former head of the team, Doug Field, left for a job at Ford after three years in charge. In picking Lynch as his replacement, Apple went with an internal executive who isn’t a car veteran.
In trying to master self-driving cars, Apple is chasing a holy grail within the industry. Tech and auto giants have spent years on autonomous vehicles, but the capabilities have remained elusive.
Tesla, the market leader in electric vehicles, is still probably years away from offering fully autonomous cars. Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo has suffered a rash of departures in its efforts to develop the technology. And Uber Technologies Inc. agreed to sell off its autonomous-driving division last year.
Apple is internally targeting a launch of its self-driving car in four years, faster than the five- to seven-year timeline that some engineers had been planning for earlier this year. But the timing is fluid, and hitting that 2025 target is dependent on the company’s ability to complete the self-driving system — an ambitious task on that schedule. If Apple is unable to reach its goal, it could either delay a release or initially sell a car with lesser technology.
A spokesman for Cupertino, California-based Apple declined to comment.
Apple’s ideal car would have no steering wheel and pedals, and its interior would be designed around hands-off driving. One option discussed inside the company features an interior similar to the one in the Lifestyle Vehicle from Canoo Inc., an upstart in the EV industry. In that car, passengers sit along the sides of the vehicle and face each other like they would in a limousine.
Apple has also explored designs where the car’s infotainment system — likely a large iPad-like touch screen — would be in the middle of the vehicle, letting users interact with it throughout a ride. The car would also be heavily integrated with Apple’s existing services and devices. Though the company is pushing to not have a standard steering wheel, Apple has discussed equipping the car with an emergency takeover mode.
Recently, the company reached a key milestone in developing the car’s underlying self-driving system, people familiar with the situation said. Apple believes it has completed much of the core work on the processor it intends to eventually ship in the first generation of the car.
The chip was designed by Apple’s silicon engineering group — which devised the processors for the iPhone, iPad and Mac — rather than within the car team itself. The work has included honing the underlying software that runs on the chip to power the self-driving capabilities.
The advancements could soon make their way into road tests. Apple plans to start using the new processor design and updated self-driving sensors in retrofitted cars that it’s spent years testing in California. The company currently has a fleet of 69 Lexus SUVs experimenting with its technology, according to the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.
The Apple car chip is the most advanced component that Apple has developed internally and is made up primarily of neural processors that can handle the artificial intelligence needed for autonomous driving. The chip’s capabilities mean it will run hot and likely require the development of a sophisticated cooling system.
The hope is to develop a vehicle that can spare customers from driving fatigue when they’re on long trips. But building an actual car — for an auto industry outsider like Apple — will require partnerships. The company has discussed deals with multiple manufacturers and has considered potentially building the vehicle in the U.S.
Even with recent progress, creating a fully self-driving car by 2025 is seen as very aggressive within Apple. Some people within Project Titan are skeptical about the timeline.
Safety is a major piece of the puzzle. Apple is looking to build stronger safeguards than what’s available from Tesla and Waymo, engineers involved with the effort say. That includes creating plenty of redundancy — the ability for layers of backup systems to kick in to avoid safety and driving system failures.
Apple is actively looking to hire engineers to test and develop safety functions. “The Special Projects Group is seeking an accomplished mechanical engineer to lead the development of mechanical systems with safety critical functions,” one recent Apple job listing reads. “You will use your passion for figuring things out to help design safety systems and to lead the testing and countermeasure of those systems.”
As part of efforts to accelerate the project, Apple is hiring more self-driving and car hardware engineers. That’s included enlisting CJ Moore, Tesla’s former self-driving software director.
In recent weeks, Apple has also tapped a climate system expert from Volvo Car, a manager from Daimler Trucks, battery systems engineers from Karma Automotive and other carmakers, a sensor engineer from General Motors’s Cruise, automotive safety engineers from companies like Joyson Safety Systems, and multiple other engineers from Tesla, according to information from LinkedIn and people with knowledge of the matter.
The company is also hiring software engineers to work on “experiences for human interaction with autonomous technology,” according to an Apple job listing, suggesting it is deep into development of the car’s user interface. The listing implies the software being developed will be based on similar technology to the iPhone operating system.
To power up the vehicle, Apple has discussed being compatible with the combined charging system, or CCS. That would let Apple tap into an expansive global network of chargers. But the approach would differ from the more proprietary charging systems it has developed for the iPhone and Apple Watch.
Apple has internally debated several different business models for its car, including creating a self-driving fleet that would compete with the likes of Uber, Lyft and Waymo. The company has discussed an external design similar to the Canoo if it were to take the fleet approach. A more likely scenario, however, is Apple offering the cars for individual ownership.
Getting to that point won’t be easy. Apple’s car project has suffered from development challenges, leadership struggles, layoffs and delays over its seven-year history. Field’s arrival from Tesla in 2018 brought a surge of excitement that ultimately fizzled. At least four top managers from the project departed in 2021, in addition to Field himself.
Some members of the group believe Field was irked about reporting to artificial intelligence chief John Giannandrea after the retirement of his previous boss, Bob Mansfield. Mansfield had reported directly to Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook in a part-time job overseeing the car work.
Lynch is now the fifth executive to take charge of the project in roughly seven years. That rate of turnover is rare at Apple. For instance, its virtual and augmented reality team has had one leader since that project kicked off around the same time as the car.
Still, given Lynch’s ability to help turn the Apple Watch into a core product, some engineers on the car team see his appointment as a bullish sign. Lynch reports to Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer.
Lynch is a software manager without car hardware or autonomous experience, but former Tesla executives on the project — including Michael Schwekutsch and Stuart Bowers — have key roles. Apple also hired Ulrich Kranz earlier this year. He previously led Canoo and helped oversee development of BMW’s electric cars.
When Lynch was chosen to take over the car project, he remained in charge of the Apple Watch operating system and some health software teams. He has stayed involved in high-level decision making while focusing much of his time on the car project.
The question now is whether an executive who oversaw one of Apple’s last big things — its smartwatch — can turn a car into its next one.
Shattered screens and aging batteries in iPhones used to require a trip to the Apple Store – or a local repair shop – to fix. But starting in early 2022, iPhone owners in the United States who want to try repairing their ailing device can do so with some help from Apple itself.
Apple surprised Right to Repair advocates by announcing a new Self Service Repair program, which will allow owners of its products to request the official tools, components and manuals needed to repair damaged Apple products on their own.
“Creating greater access to Apple genuine parts gives our customers even more choice if a repair is needed,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer, in a statement.
At first, Apple will sell parts and tools for repairing iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 series smartphones, including commonly needed components like batteries and cameras, from an online storefront. After that, the company plans to offer similar repair resources to people who want to repair their M1-powered Mac computers.
Once consumers have completed their repairs, they can send their old, used components back to Apple to be recycled.
While replacing iPhone screens and swapping batteries can be easier than most people expect, the process still isn’t always simple. For one, getting into the iPhone itself can be difficult – Apple uses adhesives to seal its phones shut and repair technicians frequently rely on heating pads or heat guns to soften that glue before successfully cracking the device open.
Because of that, Apple still cautions that “the vast majority” of people should still leave such repairs in the hands of professionals. Even so, the company’s shifting stance on product repairs has advocates feeling cautiously optimistic.
“One of the most visible opponents to repair access is reversing course and Apple’s move shows that what repair advocates have been asking for was always possible,” said Nathan Proctor, senior director of the nonprofit U.S. Public Interest Research Group’s Right to Repair campaign. “After years of industry lobbyists telling lawmakers that sharing access to parts, service tools and manuals would result in safety, security and intellectual property risks, Apple’s sudden change indicates these concerns were overblown.”
NIA Collaborates with Business Finland on ‘Innovation Diplomacy’ to Push Thailand to Innovative Country
NIA Collaborates with Business Finland on ‘Innovation Diplomacy’ to Push Thailand to Innovative Country
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