Apple has not only opened a new software office in Seattle, it has also acquired the Union Bay Networks, a Seattle-based cloud networking startup.
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Seattle has always been a house of Microsoft, but it seems Apple has decided to enter the enemy’s territory. Like all other California companies, Apple is enticed by Seattle’s talent, especially engineers with expertise of cloud computing.
The main people involved with Apple’s Seattle office are the five former F5 engineers with years of experience in network infrastructure. This is exactly what Apple needs in order to excel in cloud computing. Apple is trying to narrow its gap with other leading companies that provide cloud services situated in Seattle.
The news that the company has opened an engineering office in Seattle was confirmed by an Apple spokesman and when asked for more information, the spokesman refused to comment. This is going to be Apple’s first engineering office in the Northwest and the chances are that it will grow into one big giant with time.
Most of the people working in Apple’s Seattle office are former employees of F5, including Benn Boolay who was working as a principal engineer at F5. According to his LinkedIn profile, he was also working as a chief technology officer at Union Bay.
Benn is currently working as an Apple manager and he posted a notice on his LinkedIn profile in which he said that he is now hiring people for the Seattle office. He also said that if you always wanted to work with Apple, but did not want to live in Cupertino, then you have a chance. However, he removed his post shortly after he updated it.
In his post regarding hiring people he said that Apple is looking for endowed and capable multidisciplinary engineers. These engineers should have the ability to design and develop the infrastructure services and environments that are the base for every online customer experience. /4/it be Apple’s iCloud or iTunes.
Rumor has it that Apple has bought Union Bay, but when Madrona Venture, a Union Bay banker was asked regarding the rumor. He declined to comment. When the same question was asked from an Apple’s spokesman, he said that Apple buys small technological companies from time to time and they generally don’t discuss their objective, plans or purpose.
Bollay’s post along with the hint that Apple plans to open an engineering office in Seattle was first noticed by Geekwire. Apple has finally decided to join the parade of California tech companies that are situated in Seattle and take full benefit of the area’s talent pool.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Chair in Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington, Ed Lazowska said that it’s great news if apple is doing development and search in Seattle.
He also said that the addition of such an amazing company in the region will further diversify its economy and will bring in more job opportunities. In addition to this Lazowska said that having big names such as Twitter, Google, Facebook and Oracle is very useful for the area’s economy.
