Apple stocking international parts for London Olympics
updated 04:30 am EDT, Wed April 11, 2012
Wants to be ready to help journalists
Apple is quietly stocking its London stores with extra and international parts (such as replacement keyboards) to help cope with the expected "onslaught" of international journalists, many of whom use Apple products, coming to cover the 2012 London Olympics. The event, scheduled for July, is expected to see over 10,000 international print journalists as part of the 325,000 daily visitors coming to London for the games, reports TUAW.
The company plans to keep strong replacement stock of international variations on the keyboards for its MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and the discontinued MacBook keyboards, one of the few parts on a Mac that has significant regional variations. Apple's power supplies for all models of Mac can handle a range of voltages from 110-240, but the company also sells an official plug adapter kit that is expected to be popular.
In addition to print journalists, Apple products have become the notebooks of choice for bloggers, new media and TV/Radio journalists. The numbers of these journalists will likely dwarf the print reporters, but the specific numbers expected aren't known.
Apple may also need more international keyboards for various Mac models to enable them to sell more Macs to the expected scores of international visitors, many of whom will be shopping in London's most popular retail venues, including the various Apple Stores around the city. The company would be able to offer customized Mac products with international keyboards on demand during the games. [via TUAW]
