PRODUCT(RED) iPhone 7 and 7 Plus hit stores to fight AIDS/HIV

Apple released their new red iPhone called “(PRODUCT)RED” iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus on March 24 to fuel the fight against HIV/AIDS. Apple is partnered with (RED) to provide a portion of the red iPhone’s proceeds towards the fight against HIV/AIDS.

(RED) is an organization with a mission to make it easy for people and business to join the fight against the virus. For ten years, Apple and (RED) have worked together to fund programs that provide counseling, testing and medicine for those dealing with HIV/AIDS.

The money raised by (RED) and Apple go towards the Global Fund. The organization aims to end the AIDS virus as well as tuberculosis and malaria.

“Apple is the world’s largest corporate contributor to the Global Fund,” said Apple press contact Lisa Israel.

The iPhone features a cherry red back with a white front and the same iPhone 7 capabilities. The iPhone 7 can be purchased at 128GB for $749, or at 256GB for $849. The iPhone 7 Plus can be purchased at 128GB for $869, or at 256GB for $969. Apple does not mention how much of the sales go towards the HIV/AIDS fund.

“Apple is the world’s largest corporate donor to the Global Fund, contributing more than $130 million as part of its’ partnership with (RED),” said (RED) CEO Deborah Dugan.

Throughout the ten years, Apple’s partnership has aided thousands of HIV/AIDS victims. In 2006, Apple created the (PRODUCT)RED iPod Nano, which also donated a portion of its proceeds to the Global Fund through (RED). According to Israel, Apple donated one dollar for every Apple Pay purchase made between Nov. 30 and Dec. 6 in 2016.

UW Tacoma student Argenis Mangual is more a fan of the iPhone 6 than the 7 because of the headphone jack allowing users to charge and listen to music without bluetooth. “Its regular headphone jack allows charging simultaneously,” he said.

The (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are currently available in all Apple Stores.

“We want to leave the world better than we found it, and that’s why our longtime partnership with (RED) remains so important to us,” said Tim Cook, Apple CEO.