Tim Cook teases ‘new services’ from Apple this year

Apple boss Tim Cook has revealed that the iPhone maker will launch new services later this year.

The chief executive remained tight-lipped about the exact nature of the company’s plans, but did put a lot of emphasis on healthcare in an interview with CNBC.

“On services, you will see us announce new services this year. There will be more things coming,” he said.

“They’re things that we feel really great about, that we’ve been working on for multiple years.”

Mr Cook highlighted Apple’s move into healthcare as a particular area he is proud of, describing it as the firm’s “most-important contribution to mankind”.

“As we’ve gotten into healthcare more and more through the Watch and through other things that we’ve created with ResearchKit and CareKit and putting your medical records on the iPhone, this is a huge deal,” he continued.

“And it’s something that is very important for people. We are democratising it.

“We are taking what has been with the institutions and empowering the individual to manage their health. And we’re just at the front end of this.”

Last week, Apple reported that iPhone sales have slumped, particularly in China where it is facing tougher competition from home-grown firms such as Huawei and Xiaomi. However, some industry experts have dismissed suggestions the downturn signals the demise of the iPhone, Apple’s biggest-selling product.

Mr Cook also spoke about Qualcomm, the chipmaker it is currently locked in a legal battle with over unfair patent licensing practices.

“The issue that we have with Qualcomm is that they have a policy of no licence, no chips. This is, in our view, illegal,” he said.

“And then secondly, they have an obligation to offer their patent portfolio on a fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory basis. And they don’t do that. They charge exorbitant prices.”