Source: Wall Street Journal                  Date: 12 October, 2011

Steve Job's legacy is particularly felt in tech-savvy Asia. As an innovator, her created products that had a profound impact on the region's economy, starting with personal computers that formed a model for so many Asian exports over the years. Although Apple long existed outside of Mongolia, it penetrated the market this year and now iPhones and iPads are a common sight.
"Jobs' demise raises uncertainties to the future innovations of Apple. The big question is whether Apple can continue living up to consumer's high expectations," said HSBC analyst Jenny Lai.
Jobs has not only been a phenomenon to demand, he also disrupted the supply in a region accustomed to thinking itself as a tech leader. For instance, Korea's Samsung, LG and others grew complacent reaping huge profits behind protectionist barriers that excluded foreign handset makers. Yet so great was the popular buzz surrounding the iPhone, policy makers in Seoul had to lower the wall. Apple's popularity in Korea is likely how the company gained traction here, as Mongolia's youth idolizes the Korean media imported to Mongolia.
Job's inventions created entirely new industries across the region, from accessories to apps. And that's without the ways Apple's supply chain extended into Asia, creating high-tech jobs manufacturing components in factories across the continent Job's focus on simple, accessible designs inspired companies in industries as diverse as retailing and auto manufacturing to do the same, said Hyundai Motor Chief Executive Steve Yang.

In 2002 Apple set up a procurement center in Shenzhen, China to manage what was by then an extensive supply chain in the region. Today Hon Hai is Apple's largest contractor and one of the largest employers in Asia.
Questions have been raised about business continuity. Asian component makers are dependent on sales of Apples products. However, suppliers will not be impacted in the near future because Apple's product calendar has already been developed for at least one year.