Apple, Microsoft May Bid for 15 Million Turkish Tablets, AA Says

Apple Inc. (AAPL), Microsoft Corp. and Intel Corp. (INTC) may participate in the government’s project to supply as much as 15 million tablet computers for school children over four years, state-owned Anatolia news agency said, citing Turkish Trade Minister Zafer Caglayan.

Apple officials told Caglayan during his visit to the U.S. that the Cupertino, California-based maker of smart devices may also decide to use some Turkish manufacturers to make some peripheral equipment such as covers, earphones for its iPad and iPhone models, Caglayan said at a news conference with Turkish reporters in Seattle, according to the Ankara-based agency.

A team from Microsoft may visit Turkey to inquire about the project, known as Fatih, Caglayan said. Intel may decide to open a research and development center in Turkey, he said, according to Anatolia.

The winner of the government-funded project will have to produce the tablets in Turkey, Industry Minister Nihat Ergun said July 13.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ercan Ersoy in Istanbul at eersoy@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Benedikt Kammel at bkammel@bloomberg.net