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Buy an app, help cure Aids

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You hear it so often it's become a jokey catchphrase of the 21st century: "there's an app for that." Scaring away mosquitos, tracking your sleep, monitoring your blood sugar levels, counting your steps and, now, fighting Aids.

This World Aids Day Apple, the world's most valuable company is donating a portion of its gigantic profits to fight Aids. For the entire day, Apple will take a portion of the proceeds for every product it sells and donate it to (RED) a non-profit organisation dedicated to the struggle against HIV/Aids, a disease that kills tens of thousands every year in South Africa.

One day's worth of profits might not seem like a lot, but when the company is Apple, the numbers can be quite staggering. For the quarter ended 28th September 2014, Apple's revenue was $42.1 billion dollars, well over $1 billion dollars a day and that barely included the sales of the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, which launched on the 19th September.

Read: Tutu says Aids fight is far from over

With Christmas shopping in full swing and many new products on the shelves, including the immensely popular iPhone, the company's turnover today is likely to be vast. While Apple won't divulge what percentage of this revenue is going to charity, even a small portion will represent tens of millions of dollars.

It isn't the first time the two organisations have paired up to make a difference. Over the past few years Apple have sold PRODUCT (RED) iPods on a permanent basis, always with some of the proceeds going to fund the charity's efforts to combat the disease.

In addition, Apple's App Store is running a two week promotion in support of it's campaign. A number of popular apps, including Clash of Clans, Farmville 2 and Fifa 15 are offering special (RED)-themed in-app purchases, with 100% of the proceeds from these purchases going to the charity. 

RED was found by U2 frontman Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2006 with the goal of helping to defeat Aids, according to their website. They use their donations to increase access to ARV medications, especially for those in poorer areas, as well as to educate people about the diseases. Since inception, Apple has donated over $75 million to the organisation.

Read more:

Second baby "cured" of HIV relapses

Has Aids reached a tipping point? 
9 Aids myths busted
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