Apple opens its first European iOS App Development Center – second globally – in Naples, Italy

Apple is opening its first iOS App Development Center in Europe, as the technology giant seeks to woo budding coders with a dedicated space where they can learn how to build apps for Apple’s lucrative online store.

The new training space will be situated “at a partner institution” in Naples, Italy, and the company says it will “support teachers and provide a specialized curriculum preparing thousands of future developers to be part of Apple’s thriving developer community.” Furthermore, Apple said it will work with other partners around the country who already deliver developer training.

An Apple spokesperson confirmed to VentureBeat that the company has one other iOS App Development center — in Brazil — though there is little information to suggest where exactly that center is located or when it opened. However, in its press release today, Apple said it plans to expand this program to other countries around the world. Indeed, Indonesia is another previously announced location, though no date has been set as of yet.

Today’s news comes shortly after Apple revealed that in the two weeks leading up to January 3, consumers spent a whopping $1.1 billion on apps for Apple devices. New Year’s Day was the single biggest day in the App Store’s history, according to company figures, with $144 million passing through the online store. The Cupertino company also said that developers have earned $40 billion since 2008.

Looking specifically at Europe, Apple claims that it now supports 1.4 million jobs across the continent, the vast majority of which are related to app development. The company also reports that developers in Europe have earned more than €10.2 billion ($11 million) from selling iOS apps.

The timing of today’s announcement is particularly interesting, however, given that Apple has reportedly agreed to pay $348 million in back taxes to the Italian government. That Apple has chosen to launch its first-ever European iOS App Development Center in Italy a matter of weeks after news of that tax deal could be a coincidence — or it could suggest that a deal was struck with the Italian government.