Apple came like a roaring tiger to Bangalore, and left it like a mouse. Recently, Apple called it quits in India and pulls out its software development and support operations. Apple got cracking in India just this April and hired 30 people for Apple Service India Pvt. Ltd. - their subsidiary.

The decision to leave India was announced on May 29. All the employees were laid-off and were told by Apple officials that "the company is revaluating its operations and has thought of pulling back its Indian operations". Apple then gave the employees a severance package which included two months pay. Apple spokesperson, Steve Dowling said that "we have re-evaluated our plans and have decided to put our planned support centre growth in other countries."

It was a surprise that Apple pulled out even if the Bangalore operation offers low-cost and highly talented people. According to one of the suddenly jobless employees, "it started off with building dreams. We were not given any warning. They just told us the operations would now head back to the US." Another employee added that "on May 15, Apple officials addressed us and were highly appreciative of the workforce and the task it would execute in India. I wonder why they never said anything even then."

Apple initially planned on hiring at least 3,000 tech support workers in India. Steve Jobs was suppose to visit India last April to check out operations there, but the visit was postponed and pushed to September.