China Apple entertainment ban huge challenge

The blocking of Apple mobile entertainment services on Thursday in China poses fresh challenges for the tech company as it prepares to report its first-ever drop in iPhone sales, Reuters reports. Investors are sensitive to any signs of trouble in Greater China, the company’s second-largest market by revenue. Apple executives have flagged the growing services business as a potential source of revenue to offset falling phone sales, and the Chinese market is key. Still, the outage is only troubling if it persists. Apple has a strong track record of working with officials in China, but some analysts questioned whether the company may receive a chillier reception in the future.