Foxconn&nbsp;plans to invest up to $1 billion to expand a factory in southern India where the Taiwanese contract manufacturer assembles Apple iPhones, two sources said.

The move, the scale of which has not previously been reported, is part of a quiet and gradual production shift by Apple away from China as it navigates disruptions from a trade war between Beijing and Washington and the coronavirus crisis.

"There's a strong request from Apple to its clients to move part of the iPhone production out of China," one of the sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/as-apple-eyes-shift-to-india-from-china-smartphone-manufacturing-to-get-major-boost-298304">As Apple eyes shift to India from China, smartphone manufacturing to get major boost</a>

Foxconn&nbsp;said it does not comment on matters related to customers, while Apple did not respond to a request for comment.

Foxconn's planned investment in the Sriperumbur plant, where Apple's iPhone XR is made some 50 km west of Chennai, will take place over the course of three years, the second source said.

Some of Apple's other iPhones models, made by&nbsp;Foxconn&nbsp;in China, will be made at the plant, said both sources, who declined to be identified as the talks are private and details have yet to be finalised.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/amid-growing-tensions-with-china-taiwans-foxconn-eyes-investment-in-india-308087">Amid growing tensions with China, Taiwan's Foxconn eyes investment in India</a>

Taipei-headquartered&nbsp;Foxconn&nbsp;will add some 6,000 jobs at the Sriperumbur plant in Tamil Nadu state under the plan, one of the sources said. It also operates a separate plant in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, where it makes smartphones for China's Xiaomi Corp, among others.

Foxconn&nbsp;Chairman Liu Young-way last month said it would ramp up its investment in India, without giving details.

STATUS SYMBOL

Apple accounts for about 1% of smartphone sales in India, the world's second-biggest smartphone market, where its pricey iPhones are often seen as a status symbol.

Building more phones in India will also help Apple save on import taxes that further push up its prices.

Apple assembles a few models through Taiwan's Wistron Corp in the southern tech hub of Bengaluru. Wistron is also set to open a new plant, where it plans to make more Apple devices, Reuters previously reported.

"With India's labour cheaper compared with China, and the gradual expansion of its supplier base here, Apple will be able to use the country as an export hub," Neil Shah of Hong Kong-based tech researcher Counterpoint said.

India is also working to boost electronics manufacturing by firms such as&nbsp;Foxconn&nbsp;and last month launched a $6.65 billion plan, offering five global smartphone makers incentives to establish or expand domestic production.

Having Apple widen its local presence is likely to be a boost for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship "Make In India" drive, aimed at creating new jobs.

South Korea's Samsung has already said it will make smartphones for export from its plant outside New Delhi.

Foxconn plans to invest up to $1 billion to expand a factory in southern India where the Taiwanese contract manufacturer assembles Apple iPhones, two sources said.

Foxconn plans to invest up to $1 billion to expand a factory in southern India where the Taiwanese contract manufacturer assembles Apple iPhones, two sources said. The move, the scale of which has not previously been reported, is part of a quiet and gradual production shift by Apple away from China as it navigates disruptions from a trade war between Beijing and Washington and the coronavirus crisis. "There's a strong request from Apple to its clients to move part of the iPhone production out of China," one of the sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Also read: As Apple eyes shift to India from China, smartphone manufacturing to get major boost Foxconn said it does not comment on matters related to customers, while Apple did not respond to a request for comment. Foxconn's planned investment in the Sriperumbur plant, where Apple's iPhone XR is made some 50 km west of Chennai, will take place over the course of three years, the second source said. Some of Apple's other iPhones models, made by Foxconn in China, will be made at the plant, said both sources, who declined to be identified as the talks are private and details have yet to be finalised. Also read: Amid growing tensions with China, Taiwan's Foxconn eyes investment in India Taipei-headquartered Foxconn will add some 6,000 jobs at the Sriperumbur plant in Tamil Nadu state under the plan, one of the sources said. It also operates a separate plant in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, where it makes smartphones for China's Xiaomi Corp, among others. Foxconn Chairman Liu Young-way last month said it would ramp up its investment in India, without giving details. STATUS SYMBOL Apple accounts for about 1% of smartphone sales in India, the world's second-biggest smartphone market, where its pricey iPhones are often seen as a status symbol. Building more phones in India will also help Apple save on import taxes that further push up its prices. Apple assembles a few models through Taiwan's Wistron Corp in the southern tech hub of Bengaluru. Wistron is also set to open a new plant, where it plans to make more Apple devices, Reuters previously reported. "With India's labour cheaper compared with China, and the gradual expansion of its supplier base here, Apple will be able to use the country as an export hub," Neil Shah of Hong Kong-based tech researcher Counterpoint said. India is also working to boost electronics manufacturing by firms such as Foxconn and last month launched a $6.65 billion plan, offering five global smartphone makers incentives to establish or expand domestic production. Having Apple widen its local presence is likely to be a boost for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship "Make In India" drive, aimed at creating new jobs. South Korea's Samsung has already said it will make smartphones for export from its plant outside New Delhi.

Apple supplier Foxconn to invest $1 billion in India: Sources

The Indian Army has banned 89 applications and asked all its officers and soldiers to uninstall them by July 15, reports said on Wednesday.

These include Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Tinder, OkCupid, UC Browser, Bumble, ShareIt, Xender, Helo, CamScanner, Club Factory and&nbsp;others.

The decision&nbsp;comes&nbsp;around 10 days after the Indian government&nbsp;prohibited 59 Chinese mobile applications, including the famous video-sharing app TikTok, offering a harsh expression on India's stand against Chinese aggression.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/wionews.com/india-news/india-bans-59-chinese-apps-including-tiktok-shareit-uc-browser-citing-national-security-309464">Also read: India bans 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, Shareit, UC Browser citing national security</a>

However, India is not the first country to resort to this move. Several militaries across the world have been pulling up their guard against suspicious apps.

Countries like Turkey and Russia have banned the use of smartphones altogether at forward posts.

Soldiers with smartphones can be easy targets for the enemy especially at a border with war-mongering China.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/facebook-instagram-pubg-tinder-among-89-apps-banned-by-indian-army-311824">Facebook, Instagram, PUBG, Tinder among 89 apps banned by Indian army</a>

Cell phones are fearfully insecure is a&nbsp;simple malware trap and&nbsp;they could reveal strategic locations and positions.

For soldiers a smartphone can be a morale booster but it can also undermine operational security.

China has already warned its troops against cab-hailing apps citing that&nbsp;they pose security risks.

GPS&nbsp;detectors can&nbsp;pass on the user's location and personal information. China claimed hackers were collecting location data around military installations...

In January,&nbsp;the US&nbsp;Defence forces bannned Tik-Tok after a Pentagon directive. Now the US&nbsp;Navy has gone on a Twitter rant advising its sailors to not to use Tik-Tok.

In 2017, Israeli army launched a smartphone for its soldiers. The encrypted phones allow soldiers to send text messages, images and e-mails securely.

But since 2017&nbsp;Hamas has tried thrice to honey-trap Israeli defence staff through dating apps. They attempted to dupe troops by posing as Israeli women.

Now, Israel has put up posters in barracks saying warning to stay on guard against the enemy is listening.&nbsp;

In 2016, Indonesia banned police and military personnel from playing pokemon go. The move came after a Frenchman entered a military base hunting for virtual pocket monsters.

Just a week before,&nbsp;the police had fought off a gunman and foiled a suicide bombing attempt outside a police station.

Some intelligence agencies are not only tracking troop movements they also follow individuals when they go home.

Few NATO&nbsp;personnel in the Baltics and their families were apparently traced by Russian entities.

Enemies will always exploit vulnerabilities, both technological and human. Smartphone apps expose both the weaknesses at once.

Social media posts can help find and track soldiers as well as pull the curtain on military activity.

The Indian Army has banned 89 applications and asked all its officers and soldiers to uninstall them by July 15, reports said on Wednesday. These include Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Tinder, OkCupid, UC Browser, Bumble, ShareIt, Xender, Helo, CamScanner, Club Factory and others.

The Indian Army has banned 89 applications and asked all its officers and soldiers to uninstall them by July 15, reports said on Wednesday. These include Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Tinder, OkCupid, UC Browser, Bumble, ShareIt, Xender, Helo, CamScanner, Club Factory and others. The decision comes around 10 days after the Indian government prohibited 59 Chinese mobile applications, including the famous video-sharing app TikTok, offering a harsh expression on India's stand against Chinese aggression. Also read: India bans 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, Shareit, UC Browser citing national security However, India is not the first country to resort to this move. Several militaries across the world have been pulling up their guard against suspicious apps. Countries like Turkey and Russia have banned the use of smartphones altogether at forward posts. Soldiers with smartphones can be easy targets for the enemy especially at a border with war-mongering China. Also read: Facebook, Instagram, PUBG, Tinder among 89 apps banned by Indian army Cell phones are fearfully insecure is a simple malware trap and they could reveal strategic locations and positions. For soldiers a smartphone can be a morale booster but it can also undermine operational security. China has already warned its troops against cab-hailing apps citing that they pose security risks. GPS detectors can pass on the user's location and personal information. China claimed hackers were collecting location data around military installations... In January, the US Defence forces bannned Tik-Tok after a Pentagon directive. Now the US Navy has gone on a Twitter rant advising its sailors to not to use Tik-Tok. In 2017, Israeli army launched a smartphone for its soldiers. The encrypted phones allow soldiers to send text messages, images and e-mails securely. But since 2017 Hamas has tried thrice to honey-trap Israeli defence staff through dating apps. They attempted to dupe troops by posing as Israeli women. Now, Israel has put up posters in barracks saying warning to stay on guard against the enemy is listening. In 2016, Indonesia banned police and military personnel from playing pokemon go. The move came after a Frenchman entered a military base hunting for virtual pocket monsters. Just a week before, the police had fought off a gunman and foiled a suicide bombing attempt outside a police station. Some intelligence agencies are not only tracking troop movements they also follow individuals when they go home. Few NATO personnel in the Baltics and their families were apparently traced by Russian entities. Enemies will always exploit vulnerabilities, both technological and human. Smartphone apps expose both the weaknesses at once. Social media posts can help find and track soldiers as well as pull the curtain on military activity.

Countries pulling up their guard against suspicious apps

Chinese forces in Ladakh's Pangong lake have now inscribed a massive mandarin character and a map of China on the ground that they have occupied. Watch report.

Your Story: China map inscribed on Pangong Lake in Ladakh