Apple Inc has filed two patent applications in China, in a move to prepare for new smartphone features that can resonate with local consumers.
苹果公司已在中国提交了两项专利申请，为推出中国消费者特别关心的智能手机新功能做准备。
The California-headquartered firm filed two applications to patent its dual-SIM card technologies in China, which enable one phone to support two carriers at the same time, according to the official website of China's State Intellectual Property Office.
中国国家知识产权局官网显示，总部位于加利福尼亚州的苹果公司提交了两项申请，在中国为其双SIM卡技术申请专利，该技术能够让一部手机同时支持两个运营商。
The two applications, filed in February and March respectively, are still awaiting approval, and they are Apple's latest efforts to lure consumers away from competitors such as Samsung and Huawei which have already unveiled similar features on their top-end devices.
两项申请的提交时间分别为今年2月、3月，目前仍在等待审批。这是苹果公司试图从三星和华为等已在其高端设备上推出类似功能的竞争者手中吸引走消费者的最新努力

Nicole Peng, research director at Shanghai-based consultancy Canalys, said the dual-SIM card features are popular among businessmen in China and other Southeastern Asian countries.
总部位于上海的咨询公司Canalys的研究主管妮科尔·彭表示，双SIM卡功能在中国和其他东南亚国家的商人之间非常流行。
"The move can help Apple battle mounting competition, though it will take time to apply the new functions to smartphones," Peng said.
妮科尔·彭说：“虽然还需要时间将新功能应用到智能手机上，不过该举措可以帮助苹果公司在日益激烈的竞争中保持竞争力。”
The news came shortly after Apple set up its first China research and development center in Beijing, with registered capital of 100 million yuan ($14.99 million).
这一消息是在苹果于北京设立了第一个中国研发中心后不久传出的，该研发中心的注册资本为1亿元人民币（折合1499万美元）。
The center will have roughly 500 employees and the total investment will be up to 300 million yuan, the local government said.
据当地政府表示，该中心将会有大约500名员工，总投资将高达3亿元。