Apple

Overview

Founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne, Apple started with personal computers, introducing the successful Apple II in 1977. After facing challenges in the '90s, Steve Jobs returned in 1997, leading Apple's transformation.

Under Jobs, Apple launched iconic products like the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad, revolutionizing the industry. The closed ecosystem, user-centric design, and innovative approach set Apple apart. The iPhone, introduced in 2007, became a global phenomenon.

Apple soon expanded into software, services, and retail, introducing iOS, macOS, iCloud, Apple Music, and retail stores with a focus on customer experience. As it did so,, the company recognized the need for a robust digital infrastructure. The increasing demand for cloud-based storage, streamlined software updates, and efficient distribution of apps and media necessitated a sophisticated backend system, with Apple proceeding to make substantial investments in the development of data centers.

Apple's first data center, known as iDataCenter, was established in Newark, California, in 2006. This facility played a crucial role in supporting Apple's online services and the growing demand for data storage and processing associated with the company's expansion The facility was eventually sold in 2020 to T5 Data Centers who provide colocation services from it.

While iDataCenter was significant at the time, Apple later built more advanced and larger data centers to meet the increasing demands of its expanding ecosystem. One notable example is the data center in Maiden, North Carolina, which became operational in 2009 and gained attention for its scale and commitment to environmental sustainability. Since 2014, Apple claim to power all of their data centres with 100% renewable energy.

Outside of the US, Apple has data centres in Viborg, Denmark and Guiyan, China, with another facility being planned in China's province of Inner Mongolia.