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Microsoft has told staff they will be able to pick up iPhones at various offices in China and Hong Kong to replace Android devices such as those made by Huawei and Xiaomi.
Multinationals have introduced increasingly strict protocols for staff when visiting or working in China.
Consultancies Deloitte and KPMG told staff last year to use burner phones when visiting Hong Kong, having already encouraged the practice within China itself.
Microsoft is attempting to tighten up security worldwide as part of a “Secure Future Initiative” following a series of cyber intrusions.
The US heavily criticised the company last year for a “cascade of failures” that allowed a Chinese hacking group dubbed “Storm-0558” to access the emails of high-ranking government officials.
Meanwhile, Apple has faced its own struggles in China amid renewed competition from Huawei, which has overcome US microchip sanctions, and a government ban on using foreign devices including iPhones.
Microsoft has been seeking to move staff working on high-end artificial intelligence software out of China in recent months, as the US and China seek to compete in the technology.
Microsoft did not respond to a request for comment.
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