Apple has taken steps to block its ocean freight import records from public view ahead of the launch of its new iPad tablet computer, according to trade data protection company Trade Privacy. According to a press release issued by Trade Privacy, industry competitors and media will be unable to acquire any early intelligence on Apple products arriving on U.S.
shores from foreign manufacturers, preventing outlets like ImportGenius—which predicted the arrival of the iPhone 3G in 2008 by monitoring the company’s import shipments—from predicting the arrival of the iPad and other future products. Notably, Trade Privacy says that other large technology companies such as Microsoft, Google, Samsung and Sony continue to expose their import records to customers, media, and competitors.
“It is alarming, critical trade secrets such as manufacturer sources, quantity of goods, product descriptions, destinations, and product arrival dates are now accessible to anyone in just a few clicks on-line,” explains Andrew Park, CEO of Trade Privacy. Without protection of their import data, companies make sensitive information accessible, which Park states, “can be detrimental to their competitive stance.” Apple is expected to launch its first Wi-Fi-only iPad models in late March.
