Apple's service department rare layoffs affecting nearly 100 people, involving applications such as books and news
Apple Inc. has recently laid off about 100 employees in its services department, a move that is part of the department's adjustment of work priorities. The layoffs cover multiple teams, including those responsible for Apple Books and Apple News. While the layoffs involve engineering positions and the Books app is no longer a priority for the company, it does not mean a decrease in attention to Apple News
According to sources familiar with the matter, Apple (AAPL.US) has reportedly laid off about 100 employees in its services division, which is part of the company's efforts to realign the focus of this key department. The affected employees were notified on Tuesday and were part of several different teams within the department of Senior Vice President Eddy Cue. The layoffs include some engineering positions, with the largest impact on the application team responsible for Apple Books and Apple Bookstore. Other service teams are also experiencing layoffs, including the application team operating Apple News.
Apple Books is no longer a priority for Apple, as it is not considered a major part of its service lineup. Sources reveal that over time, the book application may still receive new features. As for Apple News, they say that the layoffs do not mean it is no longer a focus.
Layoffs are not common at Apple, although the company has also carried out other layoffs recently. Earlier this year, the company shut down projects related to autonomous driving cars and producing micro-LED displays, resulting in the dismissal of hundreds of employees. Some employees worked across multiple service teams, leading to indirect impacts on other teams