While some Chinese companies may not be very interested in American technology, according to Bloomberg, Microsoft’s China branch has asked its employees to use iPhones instead of Android phones as part of an overall security plan.

The Chinese government has banned the use of iPhones in its organizations, but now Microsoft plans to implement the exact opposite in its China branch. According to a Microsoft memo seen by Bloomberg, all Chinese employees will have to use an iPhone starting in September 2024.

Microsoft gives its Chinese employees an iPhone 15

The note says that Microsoft China will provide an iPhone 15 to its staff who use Chinese brands such as Xiaomi and Huawei. So according to reports, Microsoft is setting up points to offer the iPhone in its official centers in China.

It is noteworthy that this company also does this in Hong Kong. One of the issues that causes migration to the iPhone in China is the lack of access to the Google Play store on Android phones, but interestingly, Hong Kong Android users have access to Google Play.

Android owners in mainland China are instead forced to use app stores run by Huawei or Xiaomi. Microsoft has now blocked access to these sites.

Since Apple’s App Store is available in China, the goal is for all employees who switch to an iPhone to be able to use the Microsoft Authenticator app in addition to the Identity Pass app. Neither Microsoft nor Apple has publicly and officially commented on this issue.

Microsoft does not disclose the number of employees in China. But it has been operating in the country since 1992 and says its China branch is the most complete subsidiary and largest R&D center outside the US. This research center alone has more than 6000 engineers and scientists.

In May 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that Microsoft China had asked about 800 local employees to relocate to other countries, including the United States.