Reiterates an earlier promise

An Italian Apple user who asked Apple CEO Tim Cook if he did not "like" Italy because Siri has yet to add Italian to its list of languages and because Italy wasn't in the group of "first day" launch countries for the iPhone and iPad has received a reply from Cook. In it, he says "I love Italy" and that the company will support Italian in Siri this year, a reiteration of an earlier promise on Apple's website that Siri will add Italian, Spanish, Chinese and Korean this year.

The reply, which was published on Italian site Melablog.it was verified as having come from Apple. The writer, Michele, told Cook "I think we are good customers for you, but not appreciated," pointing out that Italy was the third fastest-growing market for iPad ownership in Europe (behind only the UK and France) and complaining that Italy is no longer a routine "first day" launch country for new Apple products. Apple plans to launch the new iPad in Germany and Switzerland, two countries lower on the list of iPad growth than Italy, on the same day as its US debut (though pre-orders in all non-US countries for March 16th delivery have sold out).

Cook did not address the "first day" complaint in his short reply. He has occasionally responded directly to customer inquiries or comments since becoming CEO last August, carrying on a tradition begun by former CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs. Cook's replies are generally to the point but not usually as brief as Jobs', which were often just a few words (sometimes just one or two) in length.

by MacNN Staff