Tech giant Apple building a new development team in Prague

U.S. technology firm Apple is creating a new expert group in Prague to further develop its iOS and macOS operating systems. The new team will become part of a section called Core OS, according to news server E15 daily, which first reported the story.

The tech giant is looking for an operating system kernel development manager as well as engineers and programmers. Interested people should already have a detailed knowledge of information technology for the development of operating systems.

The new team will work closely with chipmakers Intel and ARM, as well as with the Apple Silicon division. Apple develops its own chips for its iPhones, iPads, Mac computers, watches, and other devices.

Apple declined to comment on the expansion but did explain the purpose of the Core OS team to news server Aktualne.cz.  “The Core OS team is responsible for developing a new core of operating systems and system functions for all products. It is also responsible for developing our software for ARM and Intel chips. Core OS contributes to the success of the iPhone, iPad, and Mac product lines,” Apple said.

Apple has had a development center in the Czech Republic for several years, but it has been secretive about the work that goes on there. A Czech division of the company called Apple Czech s.r.o. has been registered since 2009 and software development has been taking place in the Prague office since 2013.

Lukáš Voříšek, editor-in-chief of the technology magazine InSmart.cz, told news server Aktualne.cz that the expansion is good news for local developers.

“Apple has been engaged in various activities in the Czech Republic for many years. Most people only know that Prague has repeatedly appeared in the company's advertisements. Less well known is the fact that several dozen developers are working on Touch ID, biometric authentication, and other technologies here. These are part of iOS, macOS, WatchOS, and other Apple operating systems. So you could say that the local office has been involved in their development for several years,” Voříšek said.

Prague recently featured in a new ad for the iPhone SE, partly filmed at the National Technical Library, and the new ad for iPad Air, which had some dark street scenes.

Apple is not the only tech giant to have branches in the Czech Republic. The county has a strong for technology, and pay for top developers here is much less than it is in the U.S. Other tech giants with a Czech presence include Google, Microsoft, and IBM. Prague isn't the only Czech city to attract tech investment. Companies also have operations in Brno, South Moravia, which has become a tech hub due to the schools there and government investment.

In addition, there are large locally developed firms including antivirus company Avast and search engine Seznam.

While Apple has a development center in the Czech Republic, it still lacks an official Apple Store. All shops with Apple products currently in the country are run by third parties under contract. Former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš had been eager to get an official Apple Store, but it never materialized.

Apple, founded in 1976 as Apple Computer Company, is the largest information technology company by revenue and the world's most valuable company based on market capitalization.