Apple’s on Twitter! Kind of, sort of.
Although the tech giant maintains Twitter accounts for specific products under its brand, such as iTunes, Apple Music and Beats 1, Apple had declined to open a straight up “Apple” account on the social media platform.
And it still hasn’t done so.
But what the company has done, reports The Verge, is launch a Twitter account dedicated to customer service.
Called simply “@AppleSupport,” the account went live at 8 a.m. ET yesterday (March 3) and, according to The Verge, first began responding to customer requests for assistance inside of 20 minutes.
On its account page, the @AppleSupport bio states: “We’re here to provide tips, tricks and helpful information when you need it most. We’re available every day to answer your questions, from 5am-8pm PST.”
The Verge views the launch of Apple’s customer service Twitter account as an indication that the company is getting more comfortable with maintaining a social media presence — though whether or not the “@AppleSupport” account will eventually lead to a long-hoped-for (by Apple enthusiasts) “proper,” as it were, Apple Twitter account remains to be seen.
Additionally, the outlet points out that Apple’s customer service-based entry into the Twitterverse is not exactly a groundbreaking achievement for a retail brand, as many others maintain similar accounts on the platform. Beyond even that, adds The Verge, Twitter has actually been building features specifically tailored for customer service accounts — such as, just recently, making it easier for businesses to initiate contact with a customer via a direct message.